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Covering the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast (AFGC)tm since 2006!

Kiel Thomas arrested at Hangout FestMay 24, 2017 - Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) - For the second year in a row, Kiel Thomas Sheppard, 32, of Newport, Florida left the Hangout Music Festival in handcuffs. Sheppard was arrested on Sunday, May 21, 2017 for doing business without a license after he was discovered selling Hangout Music Fest wristbands just outside the venue. Sheppard was also arrested in 2016 under similar circumstances.

His 2017 arrest is different and significantly more concerning to law enforcement. This year Sheppard was selling stolen Staff and Vendor wristbands. Police said these wristbands could potentially allow anyone that obtained one into secure areas. When apprehended by Gulf Shores Police Officers Sheppard had 9 authentic staff wristbands and 4 vendor wristbands. How many he sold prior to being caught on the last day of the festival is still unknown.

Kim Asbury International Biscuit WinnerMay 23, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA) - The International Biscuit Festival took place last weekend in Knoxville Tennessee. Kimberly Asbury, manager of BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets here in Orange Beach, not only participated in the biscuit competition... she walked away as the International Biscuit Grand Champion.
 
So if you live along the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast or you're visiting our area, you can try out this world class biscuit every Saturday and Sunday at BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets, 25689 Canal Road, Orange Beach (Cosmo's Courtyard).
 
Kim's Scotch Egg Biscuit is getting a lot of attention by the media as well as on social media...

May 17, 2017 - Foley, AL (FA) - OWA announced today that Wahlburgers will be one of the anchor locations at the new amusement park. Whalburgers is expected to open in mid-August. The roller coaster is expected to open in mid-July.

May 14, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Lately when the Blue Angels are flying to their home base at Pensacola NAS they can be seen Buzzin' the Beaches along the Alabama Gulf Coast and Perdido Key. Below are videos and photos captured by our fans who have their cameras ready for their fast fly-bys.
Thank you to all of our fans who capture and share your great videos and photos with us.

May 14, 2017 - Gulf State Park (GSP) - Michael Thomas with MicDesigns took a 20 minute ride around Lake Shelby and recorded his trek.

By DAVID RAINER - Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

May 12, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The old axiom that the more things change, the more they stay the same is certainly true when it comes to the fiasco that has become the red snapper season in the Gulf of Mexico.

Red SnapperNOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries announced last week that the private recreational red snapper season in federal waters would last a whopping 72 HOURS. That’s right three whole days from June 1 through June 3. Because of sector separation, which withstood a court challenge earlier this year, the charter industry will be able to fish 49 days, starting June 1.

One of the most extensive artificial reef systems in the world, about 1,030 square miles, sits just off the Alabama Coast. Those reefs produce unparalleled fishing for species like red snapper. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. made a particularly salient point in a news release recently about the season.

Orange Beach Red Snapper Meeting
May 9, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Today the City of Orange Beach held a special called meeting for the mayor and city council to vote on a resolution to support the extension of the Federal Red Snapper Season for recreational anglers.
 
With about 100 people attending the meeting, the resolution passed with a unanimous vote. 
 
Here is the full resolution adopted by the Orange Beach City Council today...

Big Beach BreweryMay 5, 2017 - Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) - Big Beach Brewing Company has partnered up with the NUISANCE Group to bring you not only local beer, but local fare to boot! We’d like to introduce Big Beach’s first ever pop-up dinner in collaboration with local non-profit, the NUISANCE Group and local chefs. We’ll have Chef Chris Sherrill & Haikel Harris of the Flora-Bama Yacht Club, Local Chef Jon Gibson, and Chef Brody Olive of Perdido Beach Resort. The NUISANCE Group aims to raise awareness of species of flora and fauna which are considered to be a Nuisance, Underutilized, or Invasive, but Sustainable and Available, through Noble Culinary Endeavors.

2017 Red Snapper SeasonMay 3, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - NOAA Fisheries announced today that the 2017 Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational seasons in federal waters will open for the private angling and federally permitted for-hire components on June 1, 2017. The private angler component season will be three days, and the federally permitted for-hire component season will be 49 days in federal waters. The private angling three-day season is the shortest red snapper season to date in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
“We are greatly disappointed at the extremely limited federal red snapper season. The red snapper fishery off the coast of Alabama is phenomenal. For NOAA Fisheries to allow our anglers only three days to harvest red snapper from federal waters is ridiculous and unjustifiable,” said Conservation Commissioner N. Gunter Guy, Jr. “Alabama has built a great fishery and has worked diligently to rebuild this once overfished species. Now that the fishery is rebuilding, we are catching larger fish, and they are so plentiful that we are being penalized for our success. We need a radical change on federal red snapper management. Alabama will continue to work with Senator Shelby, Senator Strange and Congressman Byrne to pass legislation that will make real changes to how NOAA manages this fishery.

Wolf Bay Osprey Cam

The Orange Beach Osprey Cam is located behind the Library on Wolf Bay.

April 27, 2017 - Big Beach BrewingGulf Shores, AL (GSA) - Big Beach Brewing Company will host Big Beach Big Brew on May 6 in honor of AHA Big Brew. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) created AHA Big Brew as an annual, worldwide celebration of National Homebrew Day. AHA Big Brew is held each year on the first Saturday in May and unites homebrewers from around the world to gather around the brew kettle and indulge in the same beer recipes.
 
At noon Central time, thousands of homebrewers and beer lovers all around the world will raise their glasses for a toast to homebrewing and the homebrewers that craft outstanding homemade beer, mead and wine. This year’s official recipes—which were selected by the AHA to celebrate the upcoming release of the fourth edition of How to Brew by John Palmer—are Rushmore American IPA, Battre L’oie Saison and Klang Freudenfest Oktoberfest Lager, all of which are featured in the book.