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Boat launch by Orange Beach toll bridge progressing slowly

Ambitious plans for Orange Beach, Alabama, boat launch will likely be scaled down.

By John Mullen

July 23, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Progress is slow but slight progress is being made on the county’s effort to put a boat launch on property the county is purchasing on the Intracoastal Waterway just west of the toll bridge.

“The public comment period from ADEM has closed with no public comments,” Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, said. “They are in the process of issuing their final report which will basically be a clean bill of health. Once that happens the appraisal will be finalized which values the property at a value that is sufficient to move forward with the purchase with public money. The commission’s ready to vote on it.”

New Orange Beach Schools taking shape

By City of Orange Beach

July 22, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - With classes starting in less than a month at the new Orange Beach High School and Middle School, excitement is growing in our community.

As seen in the Week 60 aerials (above) the new school campus on Canal Road is still in the heavy construction phase but a lot of progress is being made. A few miles down the road is where history will be made on Wednesday, August 14, 2019. It's on that day Orange Beach will officially have a middle school and high school in session. While they will not be in the impressive new building, the students will be in safe, enclosed modular buildings around the elementary school campus.

Kids’ Night Out returns August 6 to Waterfront Park

July 19, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Police Department will hold its annual Kids’ Night Out from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, at Waterfront Park. The free event is held each year in conjunction with National Night Out.

GSPD arrest 2 for breaking into cars on West Beach

Gulf Shores Arrest July 18, 2019 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - On July 14, 2019 at 7:04 a.m., GSPD received a report of an Unlawful Breaking & Entering to a motor vehicle in the 600 block of West Beach Blvd. As the victim was approaching her parked vehicle, two white males exited her vehicle. The men started a conversation with the victim and ultimately returned property they had stolen while inside her vehicle. During the conversation, the victim was able to identify at least one of the men. The suspects then entered a white Ford Explorer with a Georgia plate and left the area.

Orange Beach enacts moratorium on CBD licenses

By John Mullen

July 18, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – There are still some issues with CBD oil that Councilman Jerry Johnson sees as murky and before issuing more licenses for stores or wholesalers in the city he’d like to say those cleared up.

On July 16, the Orange Beach City Council in a 6-0 unanimous vote placed a 90-day moratorium on any new business licenses for CBD stores or wholesalers in the city.

Red Snapper Season extended for private anglers

By Outdoor Alabama

July 17, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - After completing a review of the first 21 days of the proposed 27-day 2019 private angler red snapper season, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will add five days to the private vessel recreational season. The additional days will begin 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2019, and run until midnight on Monday, August 5, 2019.

Orange Beach Briefs

orange beach boat logo July 16, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - News briefs around the City of Orange Beach Alabama...

Never backing down and paying it forward pushes longtime coach to shed pounds

July 12, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Retired Orange Beach Police Sgt. David McLain has been coaching for over 30 years and most of that time has been in and around Orange Beach.

Coach McLain is no stranger to helping kids achieve things they didn’t think were possible, such as winning area championships on the basketball court or bringing home softball trophies. Now it’s his turn to dig deep, not to win trophies but to shed pounds with the encouragement of Mayor Tony Kennon, Orange Beach Middle/High School girls basketball players, fellow coaches and guidance from Southern Rapid Care medical professionals.

Bid to add Canal Road lane awarded at $7.4 million

City of Orange Beach

July 12, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – On June 28, the Alabama Department of Transportation opened bids for the Canal Road eastbound lane project and the winning bid of $7.4 million was awarded to John G. Walton Construction company of Mobile.

Building the new lane between the light at Williams Silvers Parkway and State Highway 161 is expected to begin in the fall of 2019. Completion of this second eastbound lane is anticipated to be in December of 2020, weather permitting. The Alabama Department of Transportation is fully funding this project.

Police chief: CBD law confusing, city considering moratorium

Your CBD Store is already open and operating in Orange Beach, Alabama.

By John Mullen

July 11, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Police Chief Joe Fierro said legal confusion around CBD products led him to flag a business license for what would be the second store in the city.

He said in October the state attorney general said any CBD products not approved by the FDA were illegal. Then about two months later the Alabama Department of Agriculture OK’d growing industrial hemp in the state and Congress took the hemp out of its definition of marijuana.

Death in car crash last night in Orange Beach

Orange Beach Police logo By Orange Beach Police

July 10, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - On July 9, 2019 at approximately 11:17 PM two Officers of the Orange Beach Police Department were engaged in a traffic stop in the 28000 Block of Perdido Beach Bld. East of Perdido Pass. A third Orange Beach Police Officer in the area observed a 1998 GMC Sierra Pick-Up travelling East at a very high rate of speed in the direction of the previous stop.

Swim with the mermaids on Caribe Marina’s new cruise

By John Mullen

July 8, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – When Chris Logel of Caribe Marina was looking for something different to offer visitors in the busy summer season, he found inspiration when he thought about what his young daughters might enjoy.

Caribe Marina offers a variety of traditional services, but Logel says customers come in looking for variety.

Orange Beach Planning Commission to meet July 8th

July 6, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. Monday, July 8th for a work session followed by the 4 p.m. regular meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Grant, Sanders, and Taylor, P.C. names new shareholder

Chad E. Lipscomb CPA July 2, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Grant, Sanders & Taylor, P.C., one of the leading accounting firms in Baldwin County, recently named Chad E. Lipscomb, CPA as a shareholder. Lipscomb earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree from the University of South Alabama and has been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Alabama since 2002.

Lipscomb has extensive experience in diverse tax, financial, and business consulting that he has gained through staff, senior, and management roles for Grant, Sanders, and Taylor, P.C. during his 20 years of employment with the firm. Chad has expertise in all of the above, with his primary focus on income tax related services for individuals, corporations, partnerships, nonprofit organizations, and common interest realty associations.

Chamber programs seeking perks for island teachers

Chamber Teacher Perks By John Mullen

July 2, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Two groups at the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber are pooling their resources to offer teachers on the island discounts at local businesses.

“We have 8 different councils here at the Chamber that focus on different areas of our community,” the Chamber’s Penny Hughey said. “Two of the councils that I’m responsible for are the Small Business Council and the Education Council. Both of those groups came together and decided we wanted to work on something we can do to show our teachers in the area how much we appreciate all that they do for the kids in our communities.”

McCollum sweeps Public Service category at Orange Beach ceremony

By John Mullen

Cliff McCollum won first and second place in the Public Service category at the Alabama Press Association's convention in Orange Beach, Alabama. July 1, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – This year’s Alabama Press Association convention at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach saw a former local reporter win six awards and sweep the Public Service Awards in one category.

Cliff McCollum, the current Baldwin County Legislative Delegation Constituent Services Director and former journalist swept the Best Public Service award category at this year’s Alabama Press Association Media Awards on June 29.

McCollum won first and second in the category, and the judges chose to award no third place in that category.

Seatrout, Flounder Limits Change August 1

By Ourdoor Alabama

June 28, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Alabama’s saltwater anglers will soon be required to abide by changes to the bag and/or length limits on several popular fish species.

On August 1, the length and bag limits will change for speckled trout (spotted seatrout) and southern flounder, while the length limit will increase for cobia, also known as ling or lemonfish.

2019 Private Angler Red Snapper Fishing Update

By Outdoor Alabama

June 27, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - For 2018 and 2019, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has been issued an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) from NOAA Fisheries to manage the private vessel and state-licensed charter vessel components of Alabama’s recreational red snapper fishery. The EFP does not cover federally permitted charter vessels, which have their own season. The 2019 private angler season began June 1 and is expected to be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through July 28 and the Fourth of July – a total of 27 days.

Walter Marine has hand in famous Florida museum reef

This ring art is part of the South Walton Artificial Reef Association's underwater museum of art.

By John Mullen

June 27, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – David Walter at Walter Marine in Orange Beach has been involved in some impressive reef projects over the years including the sinking of the LuLu in 2013.

His company and crew have a played a small part in a Florida reef project that in just one year has created a worldwide buzz, according to South Walton Artificial Reef Association President Andy McAlexander.

New Orange Beach sidewalk would provide connections to new school

New sidewalk in Orange Beach would provide connections to new school.

By John Mullen

June 25, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - A new sidewalk project by Orange Beach will connect two neighborhoods to the Sportsplex and have some unintended – at its inception anyway – bonuses with connections to the new school campus as well.

“It’s just a great project,” Community Development Director Kit Alexander said. “I love this project. It couldn’t have worked out better. We started this project even before we knew the school was going to happen. It was sort of like serendipity.”

Orange Beach gets rare green sea turtle nest

Green sea turtles nests are common in Florida but are rarely seen in Alabama.

By John Mullen

June 24, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Share the Beach sea turtle volunteers in Orange Beach were abuzz after finding a nest on June 23, only the second one ever documented by a green sea turtle in Alabama.

“The last one that I knew of was in 2008 on Gulf State Park beach,” Orange Beach Team Leader Lisa Graham said. “One of our tropical storms destroyed it. We had another around the same time but it turned out to be infertile. There was one year when one came up in front of Lighthouse in Gulf Shores but it didn’t nest.

Independence Day Celebrations on the Gulf Coast

June 22, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - From The Wharf to the Flora-Bama to the Gulf State Park Pier, Fourth of July celebrations are planned in and around Orange Beach. Please remember that fireworks are prohibited in Orange Beach, except for professionally produced and permitted shows.

Interim Orange Beach Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief named

Orange Beach Fire Chief & Deputy Fire Chief

By City of Orange Beach

June 22, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Following the retirement of Chief Justin Pearce this month, Deputy Chief Mike Kimmerling has been assigned by Mayor Tony Kennon to serve as Interim Fire Chief.

Last man standing at Flora-Bama's Boystowne

Larry Strickland is the last man standing at the Flora-Bama's Boys Town.

By John Mullen

June 21, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) – At one point it was a cobbled together, bustling village of a couple of dozen musicians, artists and some drifters who’d stop in from time to time. It was a menagerie of recreational vehicles, thrown together shacks and porches making up one of the legendary scenes in the history of the Flora-Bama Lounge and Package Store.

At the center of it was musician – mainly a keyboardist – and author Larry Strickland. He recently released his second book, Redbeard’s Revenge, about a treasure buried in the sand underneath the Flora-Bama. The Alabama-Florida Gulf Coast is the backdrop for the new book.

Larry's book can be purchased at the Flora-Bama Gift Shop or online at www.LarryStrickland.net.

Orange Beach council considering 677 new housing units

The new buildings at Caribe would bring the total number of units on the property to 1,080.

By John Mullen

June 21, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Growth and potential growth is alive and kicking in Orange Beach. During city council regular and work sessions on June 18, the council heard ordinances for developments that could add 677 houses, cottages, and condo units combined.

And Brett Robinson already has the go-ahead on Phoenix Gulf Towers and is doing foundation work on that project. It would bring 192 units to Orange Beach on the west end of town between Palm Beach and Sugar Sands developments. At the east end of town Brett Robinson’s Phoenix Orange Beach II, a 120-unit project, is nearing completion on the Gulf between the Island House Hotel on the west and Tidewater condos.

Full Moon Paddle set for July 14th

June 20, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Following a successful June 16th Full Moon Paddle fundraiser, the City of Orange Beach Friends and Family Relay for Life team is gearing up for the July 14th paddle, which will be the last one of the summer.

Baldwin County Commission Public Information Meeting for Extension of Baldwin Beach Express

Submitted

June 19, 2019 - UPDATE: They announced yesterday at commission that meeting was indefinitely postponed.

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June 18, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Baldwin County Commission will hold a Special Work Session on June 27, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. at the Baldwin County Central Annex Auditorium, located at 22251 Palmer Street in Robertsdale, Alabama, to discuss and provide information to the public regarding the proposed toll road and bridge authority for the extension of the Baldwin Beach Express from I-10 to I-65.

Agenda for Orange Beach City Council June 18 meeting

June 15, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach City Council will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 18th, followed by the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Be aware and be safe when swimming in the gulf

By City of Orange Beach

June 15, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - With the summer vacation season reaching its peak over the next few weeks, Orange Beach Surf Rescue wants to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to be safe when visiting and spending time at the beach.

It’s already been a very busy few weeks for Orange Beach lifeguards. Lifeguards are there for the public’s protection and in order to help with that effort Surf Rescue asks all rental property owners and managers and others in our ever-burgeoning hospitality industry to share information and continually remind visitors about beach safety during their stay here.

Auburn center’s lab can help with lawns and plants

Marla Faver of the Auburn Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab can help residents with pests and diseases.

By John Mullen

June 13, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) – People new to the southern tip of Alabama and looking to garden and grow plants as they did back home quickly learn this is an entirely different environment.

“A lot of the people that move down here from the Midwest or more northern areas, they’re used to very, very different climate and environment,” Auburn University’s Marla Faver said. “They will want to grow plants down here that did well in the north. For some of them, it’s just not going to happen. Some of the ornamental plants do well in the springtime but when we get to the hot humid temperatures they’re done. They are used to them going throughout the growing season.”