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Gulf Shores Local Wild Bill Howard wins WFC Soup Or Bowl competition

From left are Johnny Magno, Jarvis Green and Bill Howard at the WFC Soup Or Bowl competition.

By John Mullen

November 16, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Bill Howard is no stranger to winning. His Wild Bill’s Hot Sauce for wings has won a handful award in the past few years.

During the recent World Food Championships at The Wharf, he added a first place in the Soup Or Bowl contest, one of three side contests entrants in the WFC’s main events were eligible to enter.

“It means anything you can serve in a soup or bowl,” Howard said. “Our entry was a Southwestern Shrimp Soup with rice grits and spicy Alabama crackers. We roasted peppers, onions, corn and hatch chiles we got from New Mexico.”

Orange Beach to spend $1.2 million on new fire trucks

Orange Beach added these two fire trucks in 2013 and is adding two more in 2019.

By John Mullen

November 15, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Congratulations! It’s twins for the Orange Beach Fire Department. Twin fire trucks that is.

“It takes seven and a half to nine months,” Fire Chief Justin Pearce said. “It’s just like having a baby.”

On Nov. 13 the Orange Beach City Council voted to spend $1.2 million to buy the Pierce pumper trucks from the Houston-Galveston Area Council. At the same meeting the council voted to buy two ambulances from the same company at a cost of about $600,000.

Pearce said the council wanted to go ahead and approve the purchase to try and get the trucks in service before the next busy season ends.

Gulf State Park Golf Course set to close on December 2nd

November 15, 2018 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - Due to a saturation of golf courses in the region and the opportunity to provide new nature-based recreational opportunities at Gulf State Park, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ALDCNR) officials announced this week that the Gulf State Park’s golf course will close in December.

Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the state park’s golf course has been losing money for several years and that he “could not in good conscience” allow our financial resources to continue to be diverted to subsidize the golf course while there are many other possibilities for the use of that property that can provide varied outdoor experiences for our guests and the community.”

NAIA women’s soccer kicking back to Orange Beach, plans community toy drive

November 13, 2018 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Teaming Up for Character is a central theme for all National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) sports, showcasing the core values of integrity, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. As the top NAIA teams head to the Orange Beach Sportsplex for the Women’s Soccer National Championship presented by The Wharf Nov. 26 to Dec. 1, student-athletes will live out this character-focused program by collecting toys for the Christian Service Center.

Meat Mart in Orange Beach thriving after eight years

The counter at the Meat Mart in Orange Beach, Alabama.

By John Mullen

November 8, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA®) – Dale Beard was spending a busy recent Thursday morning getting the scratch-made salads, twice-baked potatoes, stuffed mushrooms and casseroles ready and stocked into the Meat Mart’s display cases.

Husband Glenn was working on the next batch of house-made bacon by applying seasonings to the pork belly slab and getting ready to put it in the smoker.

“We’re not sitting around twiddling our thumbs as much as we did when we first opened,” Dale said with a grin. “We used to sit here and twiddle our fingers from the time school started until school was out. We not twiddling as much.”

Orange Beach businesses bring home prestigious awards

Owners of Cosmo's in Orange Beach, Alabama, win state awards. By John Mullen

November 8, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Several iconic businesses from Orange Beach received statewide awards recently and were honored for those kudos at the Nov. 6 city council meeting.

Among the winners were Cosmo’s, Cobalt, Wolf Bay Lodge, Perdido Beach Resort, Bill Briand of Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina and Camille Baker of Perdido Beach Resort.

The Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association, the Alabama Retail Association and The Partnership of the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama handed out the awards.

Orange Beach seeks ‘second-to-none’ ambulance service

Leave Only Footprints program wins award from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. By John Mullen

November 8, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Orange Beach’s effort to start a city ambulance service is not in any way due to the service currently provided in the city from MedStar, Mayor Tony Kennon said.

“Our vote is no way a reflection on the performance or lack of in any way,” Kennon said. “It’s strictly we have the financial wherewithal to provide the services. Our goal is to have second-to-none service for our residents and our emergency people.”

Wounded pelican Obie in rehab after resident raises concerns

Pelican is rescued by Orange Beach Wildlife Center staff. By John Mullen

November 6, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Walking the beach in the early morning semi-darkness is routine for Skie Brown. She looks at the tapestry the sun paints on the clouds as it slowly rises out of the Gulf and snaps pictures and videos until it has completely freed itself of the horizon.

She loves seeing the animals as well. On this Oct. 29 she thought there in the dawn light she saw a familiar sight. But there was something unfamiliar about it.

“That morning in the dark I thought there’s my little heron but gosh, he looks short,” she said. “I thought it must be a baby because it looked so short. I got closer and noticed he was wide and fat and thought ‘that’s not a heron.’”

Restaurants open for Thanksgiving Day Dinners in 2018

November 5, 2018 - Orange Beach - Gulf Shores - (OBA^®) - Here's our 2018 list of Restaurants open for Thanksgiving Dinner this year.

You'll find links to additional details on each of the listings. The link on the restaurants' names will take you to their website, the link On OBA will take you to the restaurant's listing on the OBA Website.

Cobalt The Restaurant wins Silver Retailer of the Year

November 2, 2018 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Cobalt The Restaurant won Silver for the Alabama Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales $5 Million to $20 Million category. They tied with another Orange Beach restaurant, Wolf Bay Restaurant. Brian and Jodi Harsany, owners of Cobalt The Restaurant, were nominated by the Alabama Small Business Development Center – University of Alabama and the City of Orange Beach.

Foley Elementary Turkey Take-Out Helping Local Families

October 30, 2018 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - Foley Elementary School, along with area churches and organizations, is stepping up to help those in need in the Foley area. The Ninth Annual Turkey Take-Out is gearing up to feed an estimated 1200 people again this year, many of whom are the families of students at Foley Elementary School and the Foley feeder schools such as Magnolia Springs and Swift School, as well as Summerdale, Gulf Shores, and the Rosinton areas.

Coastal Christmas events abound on the Gulf Coast

Coastal Christmas Boat parade starting at LuLu's in Gulf Shores

October 29, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Choose sand angels over snow angels this holiday season on the Alabama Gulf Coast. From 65-acres of Christmas lights and lighted boat parades to Santa Claus parachuting down from the North Pole, there are plenty of joyful, family-friendly events happening this year during Coastal Christmas.

Helicopter rides available at Gulf Shores Airport on Oct. 26-27

Pictured: Pete Peterson, in red shirt, and Jodi and Brian Harsany on the Huey during its stop in August Click the photo to see a video from the ride.

By Matt McCrary

October 26, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Friends of Army Aviation- Ozark and its UH-1H Huey helicopter have returned to the area to participate in the AOPA: your freedom to fly Fly-In at Jack Edwards National Airport (KJKA) today and tomorrow, Oct. 26-27.

In early August, the non-profit was in Orange Beach providing unforgettable rides over the coastline. Don't miss this chance to experience it.

BuzzCatz in Orange Beach named best breakfast in Alabama

Sunday is Cinnamon Roll Sunday at BuzzCatz where guests can upgrade their breakfast sandwich with a house made cinnamon roll.

October 26, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – According to Yelp reviews, BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets serves the best breakfast in Alabama. PEOPLE Magazine worked with Yelp editors to identify their online reviews that focus on breakfast. Those restaurants were ranked based on a variety of factors for their Best Breakfast in Every State.

Gulf Shores Airport site of AOPA fly-in event on Oct. 26-27

AOPA fly in GS art October 25, 2018 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) - The Gulf Shores Airport Authority and State of Alabama Bureau of Aeronautics is hosting the 2018 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Regional Fly-In this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27, at the Jack Edwards National Airport.

The event will highlight static displays of military and civilian aircraft, offer biplane and helicopter rides and feature more than 70 exhibitors along with seminars and an AOPA Town Hall meeting with AOPA President Mark Baker.

Gulf State Park announces new 26 MPH Speed Limit

By City of Gulf Shores

October 23, 2018 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - Gulf State Park and the City of Gulf Shores will implement a new speed limit on Alabama Highway 135, one of the gateways to the park. On Tuesday, October 23, the speed limit will shift to 26 mph.

Public safety is the goal for the reduction in the limit from 35 mph, particularly in light of the increased use along the route for hikers, bikers, walkers and other park guests. New signage and radar reminders will be activated along Alabama 135 and there will be an increased presence of the Gulf Shores Police and Alabama State Parks rangers to enforce the speed limit, beginning at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday.

“We believe the unusual speed limit on the signs will help drivers take note and slow down,” said Gulf Shores Chief of Police Edward J. Delmore. “The new limit of 26 miles an hour emphasizes that something is different.”

Wolf Bay bridge brings ‘different perceptions,’ Schwartz says

Leonard Kaiser, left, and Richard Schwartz look at plans for the Wolf Bay bridge. By John Mullen

October 23, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^_®) – If there’s one person who’ll be affected most by Orange Beach’s effort to finally get a Wolf Bay bridge it’s Richard Schwartz, owner of the iconic Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar.

The ramp for the bridge will split two pieces of property he owns at ground zero, one where his restaurant sits and one where his customers and employees park.

Go Fund Me for Orange Beach girl explodes over weekend

By John Mullen

October 22, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – A Go Fund Me campaign for an Orange Beach Elementary School kindergartner exploded over the weekend of Oct. 19-21 to surge past $17,890. On Oct. 17 it was just shy of $4,000.

The campaign is for Annadelle Faulkner who began complaining with a variety of symptoms in the closing days of September but doctors couldn’t pinpoint the causes. She is the daughter of Neeli and Chris Faulkner of Orange Beach.

“We went to two different urgent cares in Baldwin County and all of them sent us home and said she just had a virus and would get better,” Neeli said. “Monday when she got up and couldn’t walk we decided we’re going to Children’s. The second we walked in the door they knew exactly what was going on with her.”

Message in a bottle carries story of tragedy and hope

Message in a bottle was a tribute to George Gumpert Jr. By John Mullen

October 18, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) - It came from the sea and to the sea, it shall return.

Tracy Arnette was taking a walk along Johnson Beach in Perdido Key recently and she saw a bottle washed up on the edge. She had found a message in a bottle that led her to unravel a mystery about its contents and the heart-wrenching story behind it.

The message read: George Gumpert, October 24, 1982 – BETA. And a quote below over a picture of a dock over some water read: What do you do when you realize that the answer you’ve been chasing your whole life is really just the next question?

Tracy found out that message was from a heartbroken George Gumpert whose son, named George also, who had taken his own life in September of 2010 at the age of 28.

Orange Beach, Baldwin rally support for hurricane victims

By John Mullen

October 18, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) – Several groups, businesses, churches and governments in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and around the county are spearheading relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Michael.

While most group are collecting cleaning supplies, hygiene items, first aid kits and pet needs, the City of Orange Beach is planning a special effort for first responders who are also victims of the storm.

Orange Beach to spend $107,000 on recreation complex redesign

By John Mullen

October 17, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Orange Beach is looking to spend about $107,000 to begin a redesign of the recreation complex at the northwest corner of Canal Road and Wilson Boulevard.

“We’re trying to maximize that property to get the most out of it because it’s shrinking fast,” Mayor Tony Kennon said during the Oct. 16 regular council meeting. The council also had a work session after the regular session and discussed how the city will send help to Bay County, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to land in Gulf Shores Oct. 26-27

Who:	Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)

What:	Jack Edwards Airport is hosting the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s last fly-in for 2018. AOPA’s fly-ins are designed to give AOPA pilots and other aircraft enthusiasts the opportunity to connect with each other, learn more about aircrafts and have fun. This event is open to the public.

Gulf Coast Multi-Chamber Social to gather on the Line

October 11, 2018 – Perdido Key, FL - (OBA^®) - Those who live, work and play in the Gulf Coast may already know how lucky we are to be able to enjoy the most beautiful beaches, friendly community atmospheres and successful business ventures in our area. Being a part of a local Chamber of Commerce allows camaraderie and collaboration to business professionals and community members in the area where we strive to succeed and grow together. The Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking social every year to bring together the local Chambers in the area to commend the continuing hard work for our common purpose of promoting successful business along the gulf coast.

Orange Beach City Council meeting set Oct. 16th

October 13, 2018 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach City Council will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 16th, followed by the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Following are the agendas for the meetings. Please note that the information below may not be the most up-to-date information. For the full and most up-to-date agendas and attachments, go to https://orangebeach.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/.

Gulf Shores remains under Tropical Storm Warning due to advancing Hurricane Michael

October 9, 2018 – Gulf Shores, Ala – (OBA^®) - City of Gulf Shores officials continue to monitor Hurricane Michael as it continues on an eastern track and is forecast to make landfall as a Category 3 major hurricane between Destin and Apalachicola on the Florida Panhandle. Gulf Shores’ residents and visitors are urged to continue to monitor this situation closely and take necessary precautions.

Tropical Storm Force Winds ranging from 39 to 74 mph can be expected as local weather conditions deteriorate rapidly Tuesday evening through Wednesday.

Road closures related to the 47th Annual National Shrimp Festival

October 8, 2018 – Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - The City of Gulf Shores would like to make all residents and visitors aware of the following road closures and detours related to the 47th Annual National Shrimp Festival.

Tacky Jacks, Beach'N Buggys team up to help vets

Beach'N Buggys rents beach wheelchairs in Orange Beach, Alabama, and Gulf Shores, Alabama. By John Mullen

October 5, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA®) – Having access to the beach for handicapped vacationers can be a game changer for many potential travelers.

“We have so many people we service and people are changing their vacation plans,” Beach’N Buggys co-owner Marie Palmer said. “They’ve been able to see the beach but they’ve never been able to get onto the beach and it’s absolutely amazing.”

Palmer and her husband Chance Blaker have been in the business of making and selling the buggies with balloon-like tires that can make the beach accessible to more people since about 2010. About a year ago they went into the rental business and have about six in the fleet.

Recently Tacky Jacks restaurants and Beach’N Buggys teamed up to provide U.S. veterans with access to one of their chairs during their beach vacations. The restaurant purchased materials for chair and Blaker built it and painted it in Tacky Jacks’ color scheme. Veterans get a break on the rental fee when they ask for the chair.

Orange Beach taking ‘parallel track’ on ambulance service

Mayor Tony Kennon of Orange Beach, Alabama.

By John Mullen

October 5, 2018 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA®) – Even as MedStar tries to find solutions to problems with response times in Orange Beach the city is going to continue exploring starting an ambulance service if its own.

“We want to start a parallel track,” Mayor Tony Kennon said. “They may bring something that changes or turns all of our heads then that would be wonderful. If not, we’ll move forward with our plan. But we’ll start that parallel track.”

Kennon’s comments came during a joint city council session on Oct. 2 with the regular session first followed by a work session. The council also discussed subsidizing an increase in health insurance for employees coming in 2019.

Skins Game Tournament returns Oct. 7 to Orange Beach Golf Center

October 4, 2018 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The City of Orange Beach Golf Center will hold its first Skins Game Tournament of the 2018-19 fall/winter season on Sunday, October 7th, and then on the first Sunday of each month through April, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The public is welcome.

Each player places $5 to a pot for Skins and $2 in a pot for closest-to-the-pin on a designated hole.

Baldwin Pops concert at Library Green in Orange Beach

October 3, 2018 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Baldwin Pops Band, conducted by Dr. Jason Rinehart, will present "Bernstein, Jazz, and Our Southern Roots" at 4 p.m. Sunday, October 14 at the Library Green in Orange Beach, overlooking Wolf Bay.