Rum Runners Opening Wednesday at The Wharf

June 29, 2009 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Rum Runners USA announced it’s newest location at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama will open the first week in July.

As part of the grand opening week Rum Runners will be giving away 2 Free Front Row tickets to the Montgomery Gentry Concert. The tickets will be given away on Friday night (7/3/09) for the live concert at the Amphitheater at The Wharf on Saturday night (7/4/09). The drawing will be done by the World Famous Dueling Piano Players around 11pm.

“We are very excited to be adding this new store to our growing family of locations that feature Great Food, Great Music and Great Fun for customers of all ages,” said James Auerbach, Vice President of Rum Runners USA.

Click here to read the full article.

Christmas Boat Parade Winners

January 11, 2009-- Orange Beach / Gulf Shores, AL-- The 23rd annual "Nautical Night of Lights" Christmas boat parade, sponsored by the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, featured 17 decorated boats. The parade route began at LuLu's at Homeport Marina to the Intracoastal Waterway to Zeke's Landing Marina in Orange Beach.

Each boat was judged on a combination of creativity, lighting, theme, music and crew attire.

Following the parade, participants and guests gathered at the Down Under Seafood and Oyster Bar at Zeke's Landing for the post-parade party and awards presentation.

In the "Power Boat 33 feet and Above" division, first place was awarded to Capt. Craig Kayda and crew aboard the Independence. Second place was awarded to Capt. Mark Mallet and crew aboard the Bama Lady. Third place was awarded to Capt. Seth Wilson and crew aboard the Rip Tide.

In the "Power Boat 32 feet and Under" division, first place was awarded to Capt. Mike Authemant and crew aboard Da Boat. Second place was awarded to Capt. Mike and Capt. Lori DeAngelis and crew aboard the Dolphin Queen. Third place was awarded to Capt. Bob Pitts and crew aboard Hurricane.

In the Sailboat Division, first place was awarded to Capt. Adam Langston and crew aboard On Call. Second place was awarded to Capt. Robert Clark and crew aboard Leave A Message. Third place was awarded to Capt. John Bozeman and crew on Caddy Wampus.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, established in 1981, is a 1,000-member strong business organization serving Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.

Inaugural Kayak Fishing Tournament Paddles Its Way to AL Gulf Coast

January 10, 2009-- Gulf Shores / Orange Beach, AL-- Breath-taking coastal destinations throughout the nation are starting to experience an upsurge in kayak fishing tournaments as this highly competitive yet friendly sport quickly gains popularity. The abundant waters of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, AL, will host the Inaugural Alabama Coastal Inshore/Offshore Kayak Fishing Tournament on September 18 and 19, 2009.

Presented by the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission in partnership with the Mobile Bay Kayak Fishing Association (MBKFA), this tournament promises to be one of the largest tournaments of its kind in the state and attract anglers from around the Southeast, who will fish for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, redfish, speckled trout and flounderin the gulf waters and back bays. Held at the Orange Beach waterfront park, this event will also feature conservation exhibits, children’s activities and live music, all of which is free to the public. Tournament proceeds will benefit Covenant Hospice of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

“We are extremely excited to bring this emerging sport to Alabama’s beaches,” said Beth Gendler, director of sales for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. “With our plentiful waters and scenic views, anglers should expect to have a great time fishing for the top prize. When they are not in the water, we hope these individuals have a chance to enjoy our destination.”

On a similar note, Mike Bosarge, president of MBKFA, shares the enthusiasm.

“Kayakers will have a wonderful time fishing this area, and we cannot wait for them to discover that our area is the ideal location for this type of tournament. We look forward to working with the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission as our organization plans its largest event for 2009.”

The tournament fee is $50.00 per person, and individuals register online at www.mbkfa.com. For more information on this or any other sporting event on the Alabama Gulf Coast, please visit www.alabamabeachsports.com.

Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip

From Fox 10 News...

Principal's head shaven to help ease kids' worries

Student-issued haircuts raise more than $600 for Sand, Sea and Stars Learning Center
Friday, December 26, 2008
By FRANKLIN HAYES
Staff Reporter

When Orange Beach Elementary Principal Steve Baker learned he would need chemotherapy, his thoughts soon turned to his students and how they would react to seeing him without hair.

Baker, who was diagnosed with cancer in August, said he has a long-standing tradition of greeting each kindergarten through sixth-grade student as they enter the building every morning. Baker and his staff came up with a solution to pre-empt the inevitable questions from students and turn his sickness into a learning experience.

In early December, Baker, 52, explained his medical situation to the student body at an assembly and raffled off opportunities to shave his head for 25 cents each. One student for each grade level was chosen to give Baker's head a buzz. The teacher whose class had purchased the most chances was also given a turn with the razor.

Mobile Press-Register

Killer Whales Spotted in Gulf of Mexico

Orange Beach, AL - Capt. Eddie Hall had some serious competition on a recent tuna fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. They were about 90 miles south of Orange Beach when they spotted hundreds of Orcas feeding on the yellow fin tuna they were targeting.

Click here for more photos and the full article by Steve Layton with Gary Finch Outdoors.

Gulf Coast, Ala.: A mecca of food, water, quiet beaches

By Christine Tibbetts

Water, water every which-way around Alabama’s Gulf coast gave my October beach vacation more dimensions than imagined.

Going to the beach generally offers up an inter coastal waterway as well as an ocean but this stretch of Alabama also has five bays plus the big Mobile Bay, several lakes and a lagoon named Little which looked pretty big to me.

Want to stay on the water? Better be specific when you book a condo or rent a house since there are so many kinds of water to enjoy.

Best I could tell, they all lend to sitting and staring, strolling and resting up to get ready for the next meal. The food is every bit as abundant as the waters and even though I concentrated on seafood every lunch and dinner, I saw plenty of beef choices on the menus.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the big town names in Alabama’s enormous Baldwin County; Magnolia Springs is the tiny treasure and I never got to Foley to check it out.

I did get out in the waters, looking at the Gulf and bays from two of the many boating options.

Full article in the Tifton Gazette

Ala. coast summer room revenue about equal to 2007

By GARRY MITCHELL , 11.24.08, 10:20 AM EST

Alabama Gulf coast tourism officials are bracing for the effects of the financial meltdown on next year's vacation season, but were grateful this year's summer lodging revenue held close to the 2007 record.

They also don't expect to see a significant drop-off in "snowbird" arrivals this January.

About half of the visitors to Alabama beach resorts this summer came from the Southeast - more than a third of them from Alabama - and, despite high fuel prices on the drive down, they spent about the same on lodging as last summer.

Full Article on Forbes.com

Local markets can fill your Thanksgiving shopping list

Brian Kelly

November 21, 2008- Orange Beach, AL- efore you head off of Pleasure Island to shop for goods to cook your Thanksgiving feast, take a cue from snowbird Delores Stockwell. She'll be shopping Pelican country food markets that have exactly what she's looking for and more.

"We do Thanksgiving here on Pleasure Island in our condominium," said Stockwell from Wisconsin.

"I don't have much in the way of kitchen utensils and food, so I prefer to shop on a local level because it helps the local business owners, and I can generally find unique foods. I'd have to say Janna's Market is my favorite market. You never know what you'll discover there."

From the turkey and black-eyed peas to pecan pies, Pelican has listed a few notable markets to stock up on all things Thanksgiving.

Janna's Market

For one of the area's hippest and trendiest specialty markets, Janna's Market in Orange Beach is the place. If you want to wow your dinner guests with a cheese spread this Thanksgiving, then owner Janna Watkins can set you up with the usual and the truly exotic.

"We have a fantastic cheese department, perfect for that unusual cheese platter," Watkins said. "One of our most popular and best cheeses is Rembrandt Extra Aged Gouda, but we've got just about every type of cheese."

Once Janna Watkins has created the ultimate cheese platter, just turn around to the meat counter where Watkins' husband, Dave, will take care of that all-important course, the turkey. But these aren't just your run-of-the-mill Tom turkeys.

"We sell free-range turkeys, which is just a better quality bird," said Dave Watkins about turkeys that are raised in more humane conditions. "This year, we'll be able to deliver or folks can come here and eat. One thing we'll be doing this year is deep-fried turkeys, which are popular and very good."

Janna's also sells beer, wine, and it can prepare sandwiches at the deli counter if you just need to get out of the kitchen for a spell.

Janna's Market, Orange Beach Commons, Highway 161 and Canal Road, Orange Beach, Ala., 251-981-7467, www.jannasmarket.com. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Pensacola News Journal

Fraud charge follows studentloans

Foley man accused of using bogus Social Security number to acquire thousands in federal student aid
Friday, September 19, 2008
By BRENDAN KIRBY
Staff Reporter

A Foley man who was fired this summer from his job at an online university based in Orange Beach has been charged with using a fraudulent Social Security number to take out tens of thousands of dollars in federal student loans.

In one case, according to a criminal complaint filed in Mobile, Christopher Adalikwu failed to attend the school that he listed on his loan application.

Law enforcement agents arrested Adalikwu, 47, on Wednesday at the Foley post office. He made an appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Mobile, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Sonja Bivins set a detention hearing for Monday.

Prosecutors have said they believe that he is a risk to flee if he is released from jail.

Adalikwu's lawyer Robert Ratliff said that he knew little about the case.

He said Adalikwu moved to the United States from his native Nigeria when he was about 18.

"Unfortunately, he comes from a different society where the rules are different," he said.

Mobile Press-Register

Patterson found guilty in Baldwin murder

Thursday, September 11, 2008
By VIRGINIA BRIDGES
Staff Reporter

BAY MINETTE — James Harris Patterson's face remained stoic Wednesday as the judge announced that the jury found Patterson guilty of murdering his former high school classmate.

After hearing nearly three days of testimony and deliberating for about an hour, the eight-woman, four-man jury convicted Patterson, 26, of killing Rene Ann Perez in her Orange Beach home two years ago.

Patterson testified Wednesday that he talked to Perez, 25, a former classmate at Robertsdale High School, for about five minutes at a local restaurant a month before her death.

Mobile Press-Register

Flatfish On The Bama Coast

The flounder: one of more popular and tasty fish found on our Gulf Coast. Here's where to find and how to catch them from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach.

By Phillip Gentry

The jig hit the water just inside the rip created by the current washing across the rocks along the seawall that my fishing partner, Jeff Chambliss, and I were targeting. I left the bail on the spinning reel open as the jig rolled along with the current on its way back toward Jeff's boat, which he held parallel to the wall with his trolling motor. I flipped the bail closed and started taking up slack, beginning to feel the bait as it bumped across the sandy bottom next to the rocks.

The bite was signaled by a distinct thump -- nothing more. No line-stripping run like a summertime redfish, no slash-and-grab like a speckled trout: just that thump. And then everything seemed normal.

Except that my line had stopped moving.

Quickly glancing up at Chambliss, a veteran inshore guide from Orange Beach, I remembered his earlier instructions about waiting for the fish to start chewing -- and after at least 10 seconds, I felt it. Maybe "chewing" isn't the right word, but that's sure what it felt like.

The fish had grabbed my jig as if it were an injured mullet being flung along by the current. Once it had a firm grasp on its prey, it settled back to the bottom while its dinner expired. The joke was on it, however: Its dinner wasn't dead -- merely playing the part.

As the unseen fish began devouring his meal, I tightened up the slack on my medium-weight All Star spinning rod and then arched back to cross my quarry's eyeballs with a long, backward sweep of the rod. The creature at the other end of my line exploded into action as the point of jig's hook drove home.

Lying flat on the bottom, the flounder has the laws of physics in its favor. Its broad, flat body can create enough drag to sometimes give the fish enough force to wrap the line around the closest obstacle and break it. Steady pressure on the head, however, angles a flounder's body like a Frisbee thrown into the wind -- and up it comes. After a brief struggle, the flounder's path altered to a course that eventually led it to a frying pan.

Continued on Alabama Game & Fish

Orange Beach Welcomes First of Two Racing Events for August

Orange Beach, AL—As a prelude to the upcoming Thunder on the Gulf Powerboat Races, Orange Beach will host the 11th Annual Sea-Doo Surf and Turf Championships on August 2-3. Perdido Beach Resort will become racing central as nearly 200 of the top watercross athletes coverage on the Alabama Gulf Coast for an exciting weekend of racing action.

Sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association, the Surf and Turf Championships feature events in the ski, sport and runabout divisions. Different from other competitions, this contest is set up to attract both experienced circuit racers and novice athletes.

Weekend events kick off Saturday morning as the first competitors hit the liquid race course at 11:00 a.m. Competition continues throughout the day until 6:00 p.m. Sunday holds the promise of more exciting racing battles from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fans are welcome to watch the entire competition for free from the beach just in front of the Perdido Beach Resort.

Racing fans will also want to attend the autograph session slated for Saturday at 1:oo p.m. and then the Racers Party at 8:oo p.m. later that night at Night Reef, which is located on the bottom floor of the resort. There will also be a charity auction of action sports memorabilia on Sunday afternoon just prior to the 6:00 p.m. awards ceremony. Proceeds will benefit injured rider Trace Mills of Texas, who will be in attendance. Admission to all events is also free.

Adding to the excitement, I-Ball productions will be on hand to gather footage for two MAV Network shows that will air in September while Wizzard Media will produce a live podcast of the weekend.

“We are so excited to welcome the first of our two racing events for the month of August,” said Beth Gendler, director of sales for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In addition to being a widely respected racing league, the Surf and Turf Championships is packed with racing action. Between hosting this event and then Thunder on the Gulf two weeks later (August 14-17), the Alabama Gulf Coast is definitely establishing itself as a premier athletic destination complimented by family friendly accommodations, attractions and restaurants.”

Even more excited is event organizer Mike Young, the owner of Surf and Turf Promotions. He added that “I have a lot of pride in the race sites that I choose, and Orange Beach is a family-friendly, vacation destination with some of America's most beautiful beaches and clean water. Their southern hospitality is second to none. I am staying an extra week!”

The Sports Commission is a partnership between Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. For information, please visit www.alabamabeachsports.com or www.apbaracing.com.

New rules affecting shark fishing

By David Rainer | Clanton Advertiser

Published Monday, July 28, 2008

Have any idea how far away a bull shark can pick up a blood trail?

Believe it or not, it’s one mile. That’s right, 5,280 feet.

And that is one of the reasons there has been a change in the way anglers in Alabama can fish for sharks.

After tweaking the language in the regulation to ensure safe fishing practices would not be hindered, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division recently enacted a regulation to prohibit chumming or bloodbaiting for sharks in certain areas.

The regulation reads:

“It shall be unlawful within three hundred feet of the shoreline, or on a public pier, or on a private pier where an unsafe condition is created, on or in waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Marine Resources Division as provided by Rule 220-2-.42, to fish for or target sharks or any species by those methods commonly known as ‘chumming’ or ‘bloodbaiting.’

Clinton Advertiser

Beach school boards will disband for now

Hollinger, Craft say resolution paves way for reconciliation
Friday, July 25, 2008
By JOSH BEAN
Staff Reporter

LOXLEY — The appointed school boards in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will be dissolved, according to a resolution approved Thursday by the Baldwin County Board of Education, and the countywide system affirms the cities' ability to restart the city panels at some point in the future.

The two municipal school boards could be disbanded by the end of August, said Gulf Shores Councilman Robert Craft, who has been intimately involved in negotiations with the county school system over the last 15 months.

"I think this is the end of the Island School System," Craft said Thursday night.

Mobile Press-Register

Fishermen Feeding The Famished

From WKRG-TV5...

WKRG.com Video

Former Cop Found Dead

WKRG.com Video

Pick the right wine for the right event

This weekend The Wharf welcomes the Southern Breeze Wine + Culinary Festival. It's a cultural event that blends unique wines and Southern-inspired cuisine with stunning Orange Beach as a backdrop. Sure, many of the wines festivalgoers will be boutique wines, while others will be more available. But, what if you don't know a chardonnay from a zinfandel from cabernet sauvignon? What's all the wine jargon mean? Well, Pelican talked with Janna Simon, owner of Janna's Market on Canal Road just down the road from this weekend's festival. Simon gives us the skinny on what's hot, what's trendy and makes some sense of the crushed grape.

Click here to read the full article from the Pensacola News Journal.

Click here for more information about Janna's Market.

Abuser given 50 years

Illegal immigrant Inigo Felix Vaigoes convicted of repeated sexual attacks on young boy
Thursday, April 24, 2008
By DAVID FERRARA
Staff Reporter

BAY MINETTE An illegal Mexican immigrant was sentenced to 50 years in prison Wednesday for repeated sexual attacks on a 5-year-old boy in Orange Beach.

In handing down the sentence for Inigo Felix Vaigoes, Baldwin County Circuit Court Judge Charles C. Partin said, "It is the intention of the court that you be an old man when you are released from the penitentiary."

Vaigoes pleaded guilty in December to three counts of sodomy and two counts of sexual abuse. He will not be eligible for parole, according to Alabama law.

Prosecutors said Vaigoes had repeated sexual encounters with the boy from Janu ary 2006 until he was arrested in October of that year.

Vaigoes had been dating the boy's aunt, and the attacks occurred when he was watching the child, prosecutors said.

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

Board rejects beach-community medical center

Pleasure Island Ambulatory Surgery Center plans to appeal ruling on certificate of need

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

The state Certificate of Need Review Board has rejected a bid by a group of Baldwin County doctors and a subsidiary of Pensacola's Sacred Heart Health System to build a $9.4 million outpatient surgery facility in northern Gulf Shores.

Supporters of the project, including the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, had figured the project would go forward after an administrative law judge last month issued a 120-page ruling in favor of Pleasure Island Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC's proposal.

Instead, the CON board sided with Mobile's Infirmary Health Systems and Foley's South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, which have fought to keep their Florida-based competitor out of the lucrative beach market.

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

THREE SOMEHOW

Thursday, April 17, 2008
By LAWRENCE SPECKER
Entertainment Reporter

When Widespread Panic wrapped up its 2007 spring tour with two nights in Orange Beach, it seemed like any fan of the band could hardly ask for more: An outdoor setting, pleasant spring weather, all the accommodations and a attractions of a resort area.

But of course, a true fan always has a wish list. For example, "How about three nights next time?"

Wish granted. The titans of the jam-band scene return to Orange Beach for shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A week and a half later they come back to the coast for their first appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since before Hurricane Katrina hit.

That's a whole lot of Panic, especially the three nights in little Orange Beach. But bassist Dave Schools said it all comes down to keeping listeners happy.

"It's a cool place, it's an interesting little area," he said. "And I think the reason that it was so popular with the fans is that they could all get condos, they could all stay there, there's some things for them to do around there, there's beaches and fishing and so forth, and they just make a whole weekend out of it. They come from everywhere."

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

New citizens group forms in Orange Beach

by Ron David

Residents of Orange Beach recently formed a new group, the Orange Beach Citizens Association, and organizers said it will be responsive to the needs and interests of residents and will monitor city meetings on matters and issues affecting citizens.

The City Council elections will be held Aug. 26, and during the coming months, the association plans to conduct public forums in order to give residents an opportunity to listen to the candidates and their platforms.

The first public forum will be held at 6 p.m. April 29 at the Adult Activity Center on Canal Road next to the library. At this forum, residents will have an opportunity to make comments and ask questions of the candidates in attendance.

Any candidate planning to run for the City Council is invited to attend.

The association also has several questions that it will be asking the candidates relating to character traits and important issues it expects the candidates to support, organizers said.

Some of these will include quality of life issues, infrastructure, citizen oversight and economic development.

Wrecks of two gill net boats prompts restrictions

Wednesday, April 09, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Over two days this week, two gill net boats have run aground on local beaches while pursuing the Spanish mackerel that are making their spring run westward along Alabama's coastline.

Orange Beach officials have long sided with recreational fishermen and sought a ban on gillnetting. To them, this week's boat accidents -- one of which involved gasoline spilling into the surf along a stretch crowded with swimmers -- illustrate net fishing's incompatibility with tourist beaches.

City officials said they will ask the state to set a limit on how close gillnetters can come to the shore.

"We just feel strongly that they shouldn't be in that close," said Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West. "It clearly is hazardous."

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

Dissolve phantom boards

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

DORMANT SCHOOL boards in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach aren't really hurting anything, but they aren't doing much good, either.

The appointed school boards are the last vestiges of Pleasure Island's failed attempt to create a separate public school system from that of Baldwin County.

Just over a year ago, voters emphatically turned down a 7.5 mill property tax increase that would have been used to start and pay for the separate school system.

The controversial issue of a Baldwin County school system split was thoroughly researched and debated before the vote took place. When the election was held, 72 percent of the voters in Orange Beach and 68 percent in Gulf Shores turned the proposal down.

In other words, it wasn't even close.

The message should have been clearly understood by the proponents of the school split.

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

School boards sit in limbo

Beach cities won't have their own school system now, but fate of the boards of education that were created is still being debated
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
By JOSH BEAN
Staff Reporter

More than a year after voters in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach turned aside efforts to create a new school system there, the appointed school boards in the two cities remain intact yet inactive.

For now.
The Baldwin County Board of Education wants the city boards to be abolished, but the cities remain unsure about the legal fallout of such a move. The crucial question: Could the beach cities restart the school boards in the future if they're dissolved now?

Attorneys for the two sides -- Mobile's Matt McDonald, representing the county board, and Birmingham's Carl Johnson, representing the beach cities' boards -- agree that nothing in state law prohibits a city school board from forming, disbanding and restarting.

In fact, Johnson cited the 1985 Marshall County Board of Education v. City of Albertville case, in which the state Supreme Court affirmed Albertville's right to re-form its city school board. Albertville had a city system before 1945, when it consolidated with the county system until it wanted to break away in 1985, according to the court ruling.

Based on such legal opinions, why would the beach cities be wary of eliminating their school boards? Orange Beach Mayor Pete Blalock and Gulf Shores Mayor G.W. "Billy" Duke said the cities need assurance -- most likely a formal agreement -- that the county board would not oppose reviving the city boards in the future.

The one-sided nature of the March 2007 referendum votes indicated that there's little public support for the city school boards. About 70 percent of voters opposed higher taxes to support a breakaway school system.

Still, the mayors said that local voters might favor independent city schools in the years ahead.

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

Two boats capsize in Orange Beach

(The Orange Beach Community Website file photo: Gill Net Boat)
Bon Secour man was gill-netting when boat tipped over; salvage attempt claimed second vessel
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- A fishing boat owned by a Bon Secour gill net fisherman capsized in the Gulf of Mexico late Sunday and he had a second vessel overturn early Monday while he was trying to salvage his first boat.

Both boats washed onto a section of beach crowded with tourists Monday.

No one was injured in either incident, but the fisherman, Johnny Williamson, lost pretty much everything on both boats. And the stretch of beach where the boats washed up smelled strongly of gasoline.

Alabama Marine Police Sgt. Jody Kelley said that the larger of the two boats had been carrying about 80 gallons of fuel and that it had been leaking from the boat since it capsized.

Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West said that because the fuel will evaporate in the sun quickly and be carried away with currents, it probably won't do much lasting environmental damage.

"There are more significant health risks than environmental threats associated with a gasoline spill of this size and location," West said. "However, it isn't likely that the spill was heavy enough in a short enough period of time to cause burns or respiratory problems for swimmers."

City officials will continue to monitor the area for oil residue, he said.

Kelley said that Williamson was out in his 24-foot-boat setting his nets just beyond the sand bar nearest to shore at about 11 p.m. Sunday.

"He got too close to the shoreline and a big wave hit him sideways," Kelley said.

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

Beach Barbed Wire

Surfers in Orange Beach say it's nearly impossible for them to catch a wave! Beachfront condos have put up fences and "No Trespassing" signs to keep people off their property, but the surfers says one condo has gone a little too far in their efforts to keep them out.

"We're people, not cattle," says surfer Mike Tamburello. "It's a safety issue, one of us could get hurt."

Owners of the Summer Breeze Condominiums have put up barbed wire along the property's west wall. Surfers say they use the wall as a short-cut to the beach and say other beach access points are too crowded and hard to get to.

"We're not farm animals," says Maggie Caver. "We're kids, you don't need to put up barbed wire to keep us out, they don't own the beach, it's everyone's beach, it's a public place and should be enjoyed by everyone."

A Summer Breeze property owner told News 5 the barbed wire was put up because the condo is privately owned. Surfers we spoke to say they'll take their fight to Summer Breeze Property Owner's Association and to City Hall.

Click here to watch the video news story on WKRG TV5.

Orange Beach Sail Camp dates listed

by Jeanne Fitzgibbons

The Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department is getting ready for its annual summer Sail Camp.

Classes are held at Waterfront Park on Canal Road, and the camp is open to junior sailors 8½ to 14.

Morning sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon for beginning sailors and afternoon sessions will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for intermediate/advanced sailors. Each session will run Monday through Friday.

Sail Camp is scheduled for June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20, June 23-June 27, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25 and July 28-Aug. 1.

Registration for Orange Beach residents began March 1, and applications for nonresidents will be accepted beginning April 1. The application fee is $100 per student per session for Orange Beach residents and $150 per student per session for nonresidents.

The fee includes hands-on sailing instruction, classroom instruction, knot tying, a daily snack and drink, camp T-shirt and an award certificate. Camp sailors are required to bring their own life jackets, towel and water bottle and should wear water shoes.

Applications for the camps are available at Orange Beach City Hall or at the Recreation Center on Canal Road. Applications can also be printed from the Parks & Recreation Web site, www.obparksandrec.com.

Applications should be submitted to the Parks & Recreation office at City Hall on Alabama 161. Mail applications to City of Orange Beach, Parks & Recreation Department, P.O. Box 458, Orange Beach, AL 36561.

Executive chef enjoys creating culinary delights at Cosmo's

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

By LESLEY FARREY PACEY

Correspondent

Chef Jack Baker is the genius behind the delicious dishes devoured daily at Cosmo's Restaurant and Bar in Orange Beach.

The Tuscaloosa native, a cook since age 14, helped create the menu at the popular eatery and has been its executive chef since it opened in May 2006.

"The owner, Brian Harsany, and I sat down before it opened," Baker said. "He had some things he wanted to make sure were on the menu and the rest was left up to me with exception of other manager recommendations."

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

Click here for more information about Cosmo's Restaurant.

Long launches her re-election campaign

District 5 incumbent touts experience on board and in classroom

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Staff Report

Margaret Long, the District 5 representative for the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores area, announced last week that she will seek re-election as a member of the Baldwin County Board of Education.

"Having been a teacher in the county, I love Baldwin County and I love education, and I feel like I bring a lot to the board," Long said.

Long, who was first elected to the board in 2002 and has since served as chairwoman of the Policy Committee, is running as a Republican.

The seven members of the board serve six-year terms and earn $4,200 annually.

District 5 includes Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan, as well as parts of Elberta, Lillian and Perdido Beach.

The GOP and Democratic primaries for county and statewide offices are set for June 3, according to the Baldwin County Probate Court's Web site. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 4.

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

Orange Beach Family Medicine Physician Joins Sacred Heart Medical Group

Dr. Karin Pardue, a board certified family medicine physician and medical review officer, has joined Sacred Heart Medical Group at Orange Beach.

Dr. Pardue received her medical degree from Louisiana State University College of Medicine in New Orleans, La. She then completed residency training in family medicine at Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La.

Dr. Pardue also has special interests in nutrition and aesthetic medicine including microdermabrasion, Botox, skin rejuvenation, and professional skin care products. She has provided pediatric, adolescent, and adult medical care at her Orange Beach office since 2004.

Dr. Pardue is currently accepting new patients at her office located in Orange Beach. For more information or an appointment, please call (251) 981-8713.

About Sacred Heart Medical Group
Sacred Heart Medical Group is the region's largest network of primary care and specialty physicians with locations in Baldwin County as well as Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties. Patients who choose Sacred Heart Medical Group experience coordinated care with easy access to specialists, preferred scheduling of diagnostic and imaging exams, and timely follow-up care.

Dedicated to serving the patient, Sacred Heart Medical Group is Joint Commission accredited and follows high standards for quality, safety and infection control. In addition, patients provide constant feedback through patient satisfaction surveys, enabling the team to continually monitor and improve the care provided.

Beach towers will stop at two

Sunday, February 24, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- After battling for three years to clear mid-century land restrictions that blocked construction of two high-rises, developer Larry Wireman has canceled the third and fourth towers of his luxury condo project Turquoise Place.

Amid a sluggish resort real estate market, Wireman said last week that he declined to finalize deals with nine property owners with whom he contracted in 2004 to buy lots for a reported $55,000 per Gulf-front foot.

Each owner stood to collect about $5.5 million had the sales gone through.

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

Alabama beaches gear up for spring break- USA Today

By Garry Mitchell, Associated Press Writer

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Alabama beach resorts posted record visitor spending on lodgings last year, bouncing back three years after Hurricane Ivan left widespread wreckage on the coast.

Tourism officials hope high gas prices and a slide in the national economy won't reverse those gains this year.

March heralds student spring break frolics and the kickoff of get-to-the-beach tourism.

Click here to read the full article from USA Today.

2008 Watermelon Queen to be Crowned in Orange Beach

(Feb. 11, PACKER WEB EXCLUSIVE) Jenna Stanford, 2007 National Watermelon Queen, will crown her successor at the 94th annual convention of the National Watermelon Association Feb. 20-24 at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Ala.

Pictured right: Alabama Watermelon Queen Katherine Lynn Strickland

Click here to read the full article from ThePacker.com website.

Hopeful Realtors watch condo market

Sunday, February 10, 2008

By KATHY JUMPER

Real Estate Editor

Larry Wireman's 173-unit Turquoise Place condominium tower in Orange Beach will be finished this spring, and he said he's optimistic that the million-dollar-plus units will close.

"We have a very special product," he said. "But the fact of the matter is, we never know until we get to the closing table" whether the buyers who bought the units as presales will show up. The units average $1.5 million, he said.

The 24-story Turquoise Place on Alabama 182 is one of the few new condo complexes that will open this year at the Gulf, with some Realtors viewing the luxury units as a barometer for future sales.

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

Of Mice and Boats: Battle ensues as boater parking space shrinks

2/9/2008, 2:04 p.m. CST
By GARRY MITCHELL
The Associated Press

ONO ISLAND, Ala. (AP) — Residents in the wealthy gated enclave of Ono Island on the Alabama Gulf Coast used an environmental argument to keep an Orange Beach public boat launch off their sandy doorstep.

For Orange Beach officials, the defeat heated up a water access debate, increasingly familiar to Gulf communities, and sent them searching anew for space to park an overflow of boat trailers that only grows worse as the weather warms.

Finding parking for all those boat trailers remains a major problem on the Alabama coast — a magnet for sportfishing crowds, with some leaving their vehicles and trailers on the roadside or in shopping center parking lots when they can't find anywhere else to park.

Click here to read the complete article from NOLA.com.

Alabama Beach Resorts Post Record Lodging Spending In '07

By Associated Press

GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) - Alabama beach resorts posted record visitor spending on lodgings last year, bouncing back three years after Hurricane Ivan left widespread wreckage on the coast.

Tourism officials hope high gas prices and a slide in the national economy won't reverse those gains.

Next month will usher in student springbreak and an ad campaign promoting beach tourism.

Click here to read the rest of the story from NBC13.com.

Click here to read a more complete related story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Widespread Panic returning to Orange Beach

January 28, 2008 09:01 AM

By Kym Kilgore, LiveDaily Contributor

Veteran jam band Widespread Panic [ tickets ] has its 10th studio album due next month and will road test the new material during a US trek this spring.The band is scheduled to launch the monthlong tour April 1 with a two-night stand in Washington, DC, and then wind its way around the eastern half of the country, stopping for multiple nights in New York City; Chicago; Orange Beach, AL; Savannah, GA; and Raleigh, NC. Also on the books is a May 1 gig at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Widespread Panic's forthcoming album, "Free Somehow," is due Feb. 12 on Widespread Records. The set will be the group's first release with new guitarist Jimmy Herring, who replaced George McConnell last fall. McConnell had joined Panic following the 2002 cancer death of founding member Michael Houser.

Most of the new songs have yet to be tested on the road, which makes the upcoming tour a live preview, according to a press release. A few tracks from the set--"Boom Boom Boom," "Flicker" and "Up All Night"--can be heard at either the band's website or MySpace page.

Click here to read the full article from Live Daily.

Talis Jayme offers art classes at Perdido Key & O.B. locations

Enjoy the experience of creating works of art with Talis Jayme at two locations: Artworks @ Villagio on Perdido Key Drive and Artz on Canal Rd. in Orange Beach.

Beginning or experienced artists will enjoy progress at your own pace. Call Talis at 850.492.8696 or 850.261.9617 to reserve your space.

Groups are welcome. Plan your next event—birthday, club, Girls night out, Friends and Family, or out of town guests. Family art classes available in gallery or at your home. Special scheduling, please call Talis.

Fees: $80 for four classes, watercolor or acrylics, $65 for four children’s classes. Private lessons, group, family or events rates quoted separately.

Harvey H. Jackson: Reaping what you sow

OK. Here are the facts — as best I can ascertain.

The beach mouse is endangered.

Anything that would further endanger what is already in danger cannot be allowed.

Recreational boating is a big deal down along the Alabama coast. It entertains folks and brings in a lot of money.

Orange Beach has two public boat ramps — Cotton Bayou and Boggy Point. When the weather warms and the weekend comes, the public, for whom the ramps were built, uses them. A lot. So cars and trucks and trailers spill out of the parking lot, line the shoulder of the road, obstruct traffic and inconvenience everybody.

Solution?

Click here for the rest of the story.

New Mardi Gras Krewe in Orange Beach

Monday, January 21, 2008

By GUY BUSBY

Staff Reporter

Carnival continues to grow in Baldwin County as more residents turn out to celebrate Mardi Gras.

This year, a new Mardi Gras society held its first ball in Orange Beach as the Treasures of the Isle kicked off Baldwin's Carnival season Jan. 5.

Ann Mitchell, one of the founders of the group, said the Treasures were ready to begin celebrating.

We were really just looking for a time when we could hold our first ball and the closer we got to Fat Tuesday, everything was booked, but then we realized this is appropriate. As the newest society, it's kind of appropriate that we're the ones to introduce the Mardi Gras season," she said.

The group, established in April, is made up of 42 total members, men and women.

Click Here to read the full story from the Mobile Press Register website.

Exhibitor slots available for Feb. 7 Alabama Expo at O.B.’s Caribe Resort

Exhibitor slots are still open for the 16th Annual Lifestyles EXPO slated on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the beautiful Caribe Resort, located on Pensacola Pass in Orange Beach.

There will be plenty of parking available and few stairs to climb for the mostly Snowbird attendees, which numbered almost 4,000.

Fifty Alabama Communities have already signed up to participate in the EXPO, but exhibitor slots are still available. For exhibitor info, contact Bill The EXPO Man at 205-222-2862, www.alabamaadvantage.org, or call 800-235-4757.
   
Click Here to read complete story from the Mullet Wrapper website.

Sirens Mardi Gras Ball Jan. 26 at Perdido Beach Resort

The Sirens of the Sea will hold their sixth annual Mardis Gras Ball on January 26th at the Perdido Beach Resort. Ball Chairman, Barbara Pugh stated that the "Mystical Mermaid Masquerade" will be a magical evening honoring Queen Joan Contorno and Emblem Marianne Hawkins.

Click here to read the full story on the Mullet Wrapper website.

Chamber ushers in new year, leadership

Despite slow economy, chamber added about 175 members in 2007

Monday, January 21, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- At its annual meeting Friday at the Perdido Beach Resort, the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce honored a longtime park superintendent, a local publisher and two deceased members. It also ushered in its leadership for 2008.

The event -- the 1,000-member group's 27th -- was attended by about 500, chamber officials said. Though the national economy flagged in 2007, particularly the real estate sector, which is arguably south Baldwin County's biggest industry, the chamber added 175 members over the year, said Membership Director Jana Davis.

"A lot of people are saying we're going through a little bit of a downturn, people are talking about how we might be getting into a recession," said chamber President Mark Berson. "But this area is still one of the best undiscovered areas in the country, and I kind of feel it's like the last frontier, really."

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

Marine Resources Division Receives $50,000 for State’s Offshore Artificial Reef Program

(From left-right: Chief Marine Biologist Steve Heath, Tournament Director Tony Kennon, ADCNR Comm. M. Barnett Lawley, Tom Steber, Gov. Bob Riley, Captain Maurice Fitzsimmons, Marine Resources Division Dir. R. Vernon Minton)

Captain Maurice Fitzsimmons, Tom Steber and Tony Kennon of the Red Snapper World Championship presented Marine Resources Division Director Vern Minton a check for $50,000 on Nov. 26 at Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The money will be used as match for the Sportfish Restoration monies to continue building offshore artificial reefs.

“Since its inception in 2004, the Red Snapper World Championship has been a very successful tournament and has helped generate a lot of revenue for coastal Alabama,” said Gov. Bob Riley. “Their continued commitment in supporting Alabama’s Artificial Offshore Reef Program is very much appreciated.”

In partnership with the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the tournament has donated $50,000 each year to be used as matching money for the federal SportFish Restoration program. The 3:1 match creates $200,000 yearly.

“This is a great cooperative effort that has produced a tremendous amount of habitat to the benefit of the fishery resources and the fishermen,” said Minton. “The program has been able to place 864 artificial reefs in the permit area, creating excellent habitat for reef fishes like red snapper and grouper.” Approximately 1,200 square miles of offshore waters are included in the artificial reef general permit areas of Alabama, making this the largest artificial reef program in the United States.

ADCNR Commissioner M. Barnett Lawley said, “We look forward to continuing this successful working relationship in the future and appreciate the opportunity to share in this tremendous tournament.” The Red Snapper World Championship is held each spring in Orange Beach, Alabama. Hundreds of anglers from all over the nation participate in the tournament for cash and prizes.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Sale set to benefit Relay for Life

Sunday, January 13, 2008
by Dotty Stallworth

The city of Orange Beach Relay for Life team is preparing for its fifth annual Big Yard and Craft Sale to be held from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Orange Beach Community Center, 27235 Canal Road.

Locals and visitors will have the opportunity to browse one of the largest combined yard sales on the island, all inside the warm Community Center. In addition, sausage biscuits and coffee will be for sale to hungry shoppers.

Proceeds from the Big Yard and Craft Sale are directly donated to the American Cancer Society on behalf of the Relay for Life campaign.

Spaces are rented to individual sellers, insuring that a wide variety of items are available for sale. In 2007, there were 30 separate booths where shoppers found great bargains, organizers said.

Anticipated items for sale include youth and adult clothing, toys, household items, sporting goods, exercise equipment, furniture and more. Arts and Crafts vendors from around South Baldwin also participate by showing and selling their wares.

The city of Orange Beach Relay for Life team is also seeking donated items for its booth. Donation receipts will be given for all items. Deliver items to the Orange Beach Community Center from 10am-7pm Friday. No clothing items or shoes.

To rent a space or for more information, call Dotty Stallworth at 981-6979.

Bayside Grill Presents its New Menu

January 4, 2008- Orange Beach, AL

Bayside Grill recently released their new menu. Chef Will Eberlin, who purchased Bayside Grill just over a year ago, put a lot of time and effort into coming up with the new menu. He talked with numerous customers at his waterfront dining establishment to gain a better understanding of what people wanted in the way of lunch and dinner fare.

Bayside Grill, located at Sportsman Marina in Orange Beach, has a beautiful view overlooking the Marina, Terry Cove, and the Perdido Pass Bridge. They are open 7-days a week for lunch and dinner. They also serve Brunch from 11:00am until 2:00pm every Sunday.

Click on the following links for more information about Bayside Grill: Lunch Menu, Dinner Menu, Bayside Grill Website, Premium Listing on The Orange Beach Community Website.

Red Tide Current Status Report

December 21, 2007- Water samples were collected this week in northwest Florida alongshore between Escambia and Okaloosa counties. Very low concentrations of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, were detected near the Florida/Alabama border in Escambia County. In Okaloosa County low to medium concentrations of K. brevis were detected in western portions of Choctawhatchee Bay. Additional samples, collected late last week offshore of Hernando County, contained no K. brevis.

Click here to visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

LSU beats Auburn 4-2 in SEC tourney

Georgia, South Carolina and Florida all record victories in Orange Beach

Thursday, November 08, 2007

By DANIEL BOYETTE

Sports Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- LSU edged Auburn 4-2 on penalty kicks in the first round of the SEC women's soccer tournament Wednesday night at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The teams were deadlocked at 2 after regulation, and neither scored during a pair of 10-minute, sudden-death overtimes.

Fourth-seeded LSU (12-3-6) will take on Florida in the semifinals Friday night at 7:30.

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

Code-built houses can resist storm damage

By Kym Klass
kklass@gannett.com

The next time a hurricane strikes Alabama, the homes in the city of Gulf Shores should be spared considerable damage.

A recent Louisiana State University study shows that incorporating just three wind-resistant features into residential buildings in Alabama could reduce hurricane damage and economic losses by as much as 87 percent -- assuming buildings were built to the 2003 International Residential Code building standards.

In the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, they are.

Click here to read the complete article on the Montgomery Advertiser website.

Orange Beach Red Tide Update- Sun, Oct. 21, 2007

October 21, 2007 - Orange Beach, AL - The last official Red Tide advisory for Orange Beach was published on Thursday, October 18th, from samples taken on Tuesday, October 16th. This advisory was published by the City of Orange Beach.

As of this report today, no new official updates for the Red Tide in Orange Beach are available. Any new updates about the Red Tide will be published on this page and on the home page of The Orange Beach Community Website as soon as they are received.

Below is a list of links to assist residents of and visitors to Orange Beach with information about the Red Tide.

Click here to see a Google Search for Orange Beach Red Tides.

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

Click here to view an interactive NOAA Map where reports of HAB have been found.
(Please note, the current map only shows HAB found on Perdido Key, and in other locations in Florida. It is not clear why this map does not show the evidence of HAB found in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.)

Click on the following links for information about Red Tides from the associated source: Wikipedia, WHOI, WHOI Photos, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Florida Fish and Wildlife Current & Historical Maps.

Hatten & Macik Win FLW Redfish Championship in Orange Beach

Orange Beach, AL- October 20, 2007 – Bennie Hatten, of Deer Park, Texas, and Randy Macik, of Bay City, Texas, caught six redfish weighing 35 pounds, 1 ounce to win the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship presented by BP in Orange Beach, Ala. The top prize of $100,000 included a $25,000 Ranger bonus and a $25,000 Yamaha bonus.

“We squeaked into this thing by a whisker,” said Hatten, who qualified for the championship in the next-to-last place in the Western Division. “We were just glad to be here. And then to come in here and win it is just unbelievable.”

Hatten said the team caught six fish Thursday and eight fish on the second day of competition by fishing off of the Mississippi Sound. The team made the 75-mile one-way run to their spot on the second day of competition in hopes of repeating their first day’s performance of two redfish that weighed 12 pounds, 6 ounces.

On the final day of competition, the team returned to the Mississippi Sound, where they caught their limit in 45 minutes Thursday and an hour and a half Friday.

“We got to the pond we had been fishing in, and the wind was blowing on the shoreline we had been fishing,” Hatten said. “We hadn’t been able to catch anything on the shoreline if the wind was blowing on it. We didn’t catch a fish for the first two hours. We got the jitters bad.”

Hatten and Macik were fishing a white Rapala Skitter Walk, and they jerked the bait away from the first two fish that struck. The team took a minute to compose themselves, resumed fishing, and eventually boated six redfish during the day. They caught every fish during the tournament except for one on the Skitter Walk. Their last fish of the tournament came on a silver Heddon Spook.

Rounding out the top five teams are Brett Phillips and Mike Patterson, both of Rockport, Texas (six redfish, 33 pounds, 13 ounces, $15,120); Kris Walter, of Hudson, Fla., and Danny Winters, of Tampa, Fla. (six redfish, 33 pounds, 1 ounce, $5,760); Steve White, of Petal, Miss., and Barnie White, of Brewton, Ala. (six redfish, 30 pounds, 8 ounces, $9,360); Gary McKenzie, of Bartow, Fla., and Sam Bertha Jr., of Bunnell, Fla. (four redfish, 22 pounds, 1 ounce, $7,200).

Teams caught eight redfish Saturday weighing 39 pounds, 3 ounces.

The $300,000 Wal-Mart Redfish Series Championship presented by BP — the final event in the most lucrative redfish tournament trail in the world — is a three-day event. A field of 85 teams competed Thursday and Friday, and the top five teams, based on heaviest combined weight, advanced to Saturday’s final round. The winning team was determined Saturday based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

The FLW Redfish Series consists of two divisions — Eastern and Western. Each division is comprised of four qualifying events with a $200,000 purse for each event. The top 100 teams — 50 from each division after four qualifying events — qualified for the three-day, no-entry-fee $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship presented by BP.

Coverage of the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship presented by BP will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing Dec. 23. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast internationally to approximately 350 million households in Europe, Africa and Asia, making it the most widely distributed weekly 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.

Hatten-Macik take pole position at Orange Beach

By Rob Newell - 19.Oct.2007

Orange Beach, AL – After a tortuous day one, the weather gods took pity on the 100 redfish teams competing in the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship on day two: the rain finally quit, the winds laid and the dark clouds began to clear away.

In essence, the window opened for long runs and the Texas team of Bennie Hatten and Randy Macik took advantage of it by running their Ranger bay boat full throttle across Mobile Bay and into Mississippi Sound to a secluded backwater pond that is apparently teeming with redfish.

Click here to read the rest of the FLW Redfish Tournament article from FLW Outdoors.

Red tide warning issued for Baldwin's Gulf beaches

Friday, October 19, 2007

By BILL FINCH

Environment Editor

Persistent south winds have apparently blown a red tide onto Baldwin County's Gulf beaches, prompting a warning by the Alabama Department of Public Health on Thursday.

Concentrations of the sometimes toxic organism were high enough to cause minor respiratory problems, if fragments of the tide became airborne and came in contact with beachgoers.

Orange Beach Coastal Resource Director Phillip West said Thursday that simply being on the beach caused respiratory irritation and stung the eyes.

"It's present, and it's definitely irritating," West said. "About all we can hope for is a shift in the wind."

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

Orange Beach Community Website Editor's Note: The front passing through our area today should shift the winds to the north. This shift should blow the Harmful Algal Blooms (aka Red Tide) back out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Shores offers more than just spring break party destination

By MARGARET LITTMAN
For The Tennessean

The Gulf Shores area is actually a composite of three distinct areas — Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach — nestled on the white sands on the Gulf of Mexico 450 miles south of Nashville. These quiet sugar-sand beaches are dotted with multi-million-dollar resort communities featuring breathtaking sunset views, chef-driven restaurants that take advantage of access to fresh-from-the-water fish and golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer.

If you're looking for a more high-end beach vacation, now is the time to plan a Gulf Shores trip for a romantic, grown-up getaway.

Click here to read the full article from the Tennessean.com .

Weather Conditions for FLW Tournament Better by a Little Today

Weather slightly yields to delayed Kingfish Series Championship

By David A. Brown

Orange Beach, AL - October 5, 2007 – After sitting out the first scheduled day of competition, teams launched under threatening skies and faced only mildly improved sea conditions at the start of the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship at Orange Beach, Ala.

When a passing low pressure system built offshore seas to eight feet or more, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a Small Craft Advisory for the Northern Gulf Wednesday afternoon. That prompted FLW management to cancel Thursday’s competition and adjust the tournament to a single day of full field qualifying, followed by Saturday’s top-five finale.

John Akers of the Ozona, Fla. based Team Mutual Fun plans on running 40-50 miles southwest from Mobile Pass, but he realizes the day’s conditions may limit his range. “Weather permitting, we’ll hit some of the spots where we prefished. The weather’s going to dictate what we’re going to be able to do or not do.

“During prefishing we didn’t find great fish, but we found fish. That in and of itself could be a winning tactic as tough as it is out there. If we can find some fish, we’ll weed through the smaller ones and hopefully get a bigger bite.”

At the check out, most teams headed west down the Intracoastal Waterway toward Mobile Bay. This course affords an easy run through protected waters. At the bay, the majority of teams will head south or southwest to fish near drilling rigs, which harbor voluminous baitfish of the baitfish king mackerel seek.

Capt. Jared Landry of Jeanerette, La. and his Mowinsargassum teammates are well-accustomed to fishing Northern Gulf waters. Fortunately, the easterly blow favors a run toward their home waters of the Mississippi delta. “With the seas coming out of the east, we’ll just try to chug-a-lug with them and go as far as we can. We’re going to target the 80- to 100-foot range. We found some decent fish over there (during practice) so we’ll go back and try to find them again.”

Slow trolling live baits such as blue runners, cigar minnows, and menhaden on wire “stinger” rigs will be the dominant strategy. Rough seas will complicate the task of keeping lines clear, so teams will likely fish three to four rods, rather than the usual five to six.

Earl “Radar” Blake, who fishes the FLW Kingfish Tour with Team Chevy, joins Team Sea Bandit for the Series Championship. Blake said teams will need a heavy fish to make the top-five cut. “I think it’ll take one in the 40’s or 50’s.”

Akers intends to balance competition with security. “We’re excited to be here and we’re looking forward to a great day of fishing. It going to be a little gamey out there today, but we just hope everybody stays safe and has a great day.”

Tournament rules
The Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship, which runs Oct. 4-6, gathers the top finishers from five divisions – North Carolina, South Carolina/Georgia, East Florida, Gulf, and Upper Gulf. The full field fishes today and the top five teams advance to Saturday’s final round. Teams are competing for a top award of $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.

Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:46 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 79 degrees
Expected high temperature: 91 degrees
Water temperature: 79 degrees
Wind: from the east at 10-15 mph
Humidity: 82 percent
Day’s outlook: Cloudy with showers and possible thunderstorms

Fundraiser Run to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
by Alton Wallace

The 1st Annual Running Scared 5k race, a fundraiser to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail, will be held Oct. 27 at 5:00 p.m. All proceeds will go to trail improvements, which will be implemented by the City of Orange Beach.

Participants can register for $20 and will receive a t-shirt, says Susan Shallow, one of the event’s organizers. “We are trying to raise awareness of the trail, and raise money for it,” Shallow said. “So far, the expenses have been covered by donations, but we can certainly use more help putting on this event. Every penny we raise will go for trail improvements.” Running Scared will be held on the trail, and will begin and end at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The first male and female to cross the finish line will win an awards package that includes a stay at a gulf-front luxury condominium. Runners finishing first in other categories will also receive prizes. Wheel chair racers may also participate. A post race party beginning at 6:30 will feature the music of Bluz Brothers II, food and refreshments.

Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for creativity. For more information or to register for the race on-line, go to www.RunningScared5k.com. Those wishing to donate supplies for the post race party should call Susan Shallow at (251)979-0501.

A two-mile portion of the Trail, known when it opened in 2002 as the Catman Trail, has already become a refuge for walkers and bikers. In 2004, the city of Orange Beach partnered with Gulf State Park in a plan to add about 7.5 miles to the trail, a picnic pavilion and restrooms, an additional trailhead on State Park Rd. 2, and expanded parking on Alabama Hwy. 161. A trail segment of about three miles opened along with the picnic pavilion and restrooms last March, and what will ultimately become a 9.5-mile-long trail was officially named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Orange Beach city officials expect that the final trail segments will be paved by early 2008.

Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West, who is overseeing development of the trail, said funds raised from Running Scared will probably be used for water fountains placed near the Sportsplex and/or Alabama 161 trailhead, exercise stations or possibly additional asphalt paving on a spur near Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Click here to register for this event on the Running Scared Website.

Click here for more information about this event.

Click here for a Birdseye-view of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trailhead at Orange Beach Blvd.

Ruling allowing condos upheld

Sunday, September 30, 2007
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Mobile Press-Register Staff Reporter

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has upheld a Baldwin County judge's 2006 ruling that allows Orange Beach developer Larry Wireman to build the eastern half of his four-tower luxury resort, Turquoise Place.

A hotel and the estate of former landowners challenged the trial court's ruling, claiming that they own restrictive covenants -- limiting development to single-family homes -- on nine Gulf-front lots where Wireman plans to build a pair of 300-foot-plus towers.

Click here to see Birdseye-view of property from Microsoft Live Maps.

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

Fire and Police Appreciation Dinner set for October 1st

In their annual event, the Orange Beach Community Center (click link for aerial view and map) Association is proud to host its Fire and Police Appreciation Dinner as each department recognizes its officer of the year and to recognized the entire departments for their dedication and hard work. The event and dinner is October 1, with the doors opening at 6pm for you to visit with friends and neighbors as the public is welcome to attend the potluck dinner.

The Association asks you to bring a vegetable or dessert to share with others. Dinner will be served at 6:30 followed by a short recognition presentation. For more information, contact Linda Tucker at 251-981-1942.

Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship set for Orange Beach

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (Sept. 24, 2007) — The $1.78 million Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series will stop in Orange Beach, Ala., Oct. 4-6 for the season-ending Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship, where top teams from five divisions will compete for a top award of $70,000.

Team “Baitmasters” captained by Robert Ayelsworth of St. Petersburg, Fla., will lead the Gulf Division qualifiers in Orange Beach while Ron Mitchell of Port St. Lucie, Fla., will captain team “Bandit,” winner of the East Florida Division points race. Team “Intense” captained by Neal Foster of Mobile, Ala., is the No. 1 qualifier from the Upper Gulf Division, and team “King of Kings2” led by Bart Wetherington of Richmond Hill, Ga., is the top team from the South Carolina/Georgia Division. The top qualifier from the North Carolina Division, team “Wrench Head,” is captained by Kevin Lawson of Ramseur, N.C.

Overall, 125 teams, the top three from each of 15 qualifying tournaments and the top 16 in the points standings from each division, will compete in the lucrative championship.

“Things worked out well for us last year,” said captain Kevin Alexander of Conroe, Texas, whose team “Force 10,” from the Upper Gulf Division, will be looking to defend its 2006 FLW Kingfish Series Championship title in Orange Beach. “To win back to back title would definitely vindicate some of the bad luck from the tuff season we have had this year. We are going to give it our best shot. We are planning to put in our time and do a lot of homework. All my guys are pumped and ready to go. We are a group of hard workers, and we are very committed to what we do.

“I think the key to winning this event will be finding the right forage the kings are after and staying with them. The key will be to locate bait and stay close to it. With the weather the area is getting right now, a few fronts could scatter the fish and throw everything off.”

Alexander predicted that is would take a kingfish in the 40-pound range to make the top-five cut on Friday. He also said that teams will have to follow things up on Saturday with one about the same weight, making a prediction for 70 to 80 pounds to win.

The winning team will earn as much as $70,000 cash, which includes $30,000 for the win plus a $20,000 bonus from Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl or Wellcraft and a $20,000 bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met.

The full field will compete Thursday, Oct. 4 and Friday, Oct. 5. The top-five teams based on the heaviest kingfish from either day will continue competition Saturday, Oct. 6. The winner will be determined by the total weight of the heaviest kingfish from Thursday or Friday plus Saturday’s catch.

Teams will take off and weigh in daily at The Wharf located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach. Takeoff is at 6:45 a.m. Thursday and Friday with the scales opening at 4 p.m. Saturday’s final takeoff is at 7 a.m. followed by the weigh-in at 4 p.m. The FLW Kingfish Series Family Fun Zone will open at noon Saturday and will include a National Guard HD theater, rock climbing wall and Humvee display. Admission to all activities is free.

As points champions in their respective divisions, teams “Baitmasters,” “Bandit,” “Intense,” “King of Kings2,” and “Wrench Head” will also advance to the $500,000 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship presented by BP in Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 2-4, where they will compete against the top 50 teams in the FLW Kingfish Tour Land O’Lakes Team of the Year points standings for a top award of $150,000.

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 service members stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission is hosting the event along with The Wharf, Brett-Robinson, Live Bait at the Wharf and the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. For more information, visit www.gulfshores.com.

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.

Gulf State Park plans millions in upgrades

Sunday, September 23, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

GULF SHORES -- From its Gulf fishing pier to stands of longleaf pine, a series of projects are planned at Gulf State Park to repair lingering storm damage and update facilities.

What will make most of the work feasible is an anticipated $8.4 million in federal money doled out as part of the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, which distributes oil and natural gas royalties among fossil-fuel-producing coastal states.

Alabama and its two coastal counties stand to receive more than $51.1 million to spend as part of the project, and according to an early budgeting plan a substantial portion of that -- more than 16 percent -- is slated to be spent on Gulf State Park.

(Pictured above left to right, Phillip West, City of Orange Beach & Hugh S. Branyon, Alabama Gulf State Parks Superintendent.)

Click here to view the rest of the story from the Mobile Press-Register.

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.