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Orange Beach Road and Sidewalk Project Updates

West Oak Ridge Drive Sidewalk to the Sportsplex

By City of Orange Beach

West Oak Ridge Drive Sidewalk Extension - An 8-foot-wide sidewalk extending from West Oak Ridge Drive to the Orange Beach Sportsplex is open but some finishing touches still need to be completed. The overall sidewalk through the neighborhood, behind City Hall, runs parallel with Canal Road from State Highway 161/Orange Beach Boulevard westward about 4,000 feet to the sportsplex. It connects to Lauder Lane with a sidewalk as well.

Fundraiser for beloved Orange Beach family set for Aug. 25

By John Mullen

August 16, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – There will be a Kenny Smith Memorial Fundraiser at the Undertow on Aug. 25 to help the family with expenses related to his health care. Kenny passed away at home On Aug. 16 surrounded by family and friends.

Fish and chicken tender plates with sides will be on sale for $10. The event is being hosted by Teresa Smith’s co-workers from Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar at the Undertow on Canal Road at 6 p.m.

Tacky Jacks leads effort to give veteran more mobility

Tacky Jacks, Orange Beach, Alabama crew with veteran Jorge Tabares.

By John Mullen

August 15, 2019 – Orange Beach, Al – (OBA^®) – When Tacky Jacks owner Buddy Skipper found out people liked to have their pictures made with the big blue marlin hanging up at his three locations an idea was born.

“He said we ought to try and raise some money with that,” CFO Ken Kichler said. “We put a donation box and originally it was for different charities. We’ve done several different charities over the years. Whatever money our customers drop into the boxes we match that money and make charitable arrangements around that.

OWA Opens Coastal Alabama’s 1st State-of-the-Art eSports Center

Grand Opening kicks off Aug. 17 with arrival of famous Twitch gamer.

August 14, 2019 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - Looking for the best gaming around? OWA’s newest entertainment attraction is the place to be! Clash eSports Center (Clash) is a high-end video gaming facility located within Downtown OWA—the complex’s entertainment, dining, and shopping area.

Perdido Key Sports Bar Celebrates the end of season with a Chamber Business After Hours on August 21

August 14, 2019 - Perdido Key, FL - (OBA^®) - On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, The Perdido Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly Business After Hours Networking Social at local, hot-spot- the Perdido Key Sports Bar & Restaurant! From 5 pm to 7 pm, members of the chamber will welcome Perdido professionals to a cocktail social to network with potential clients and partners and learn about the benefits of being a chamber member!

Flora-Bama’s Bull Riding Event Now Three Days - Sept. 5-7TH

August 14, 2019 - Perdido Key, FL - (OBA) - “Bulls on the Beach”, at this iconic Beach watering hole, is now so popular that the family-fun event has been extended to three nights. Thursday night will feature kids on miniature bucking ponies and a bicycle giveaway for a boy and girl along with some professional bull riders.

Seasonal Hiring for OWA’s Haunted House Begins Aug. 21-22

August 13, 2019 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - If you enjoy scaring your friends, OWA has the perfect job opportunity for you. Auditions for the haunted house’s “scare actors” will be held Aug. 21-22, 2019 at OWA. This year’s terrifying theme for OWA’s Town of Terror is “Hotel Mitchell. ” It’s the hotel where you check in, but never check out. This year’s theme will feature possessed bell-hops, evil guests, plus a few terrifying rooms that might be better left unopened!

Alabama Announces Two Additional Days of Red Snapper Season for Private Anglers

August 13, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - After completing a review of the 2019 private angler red snapper season through August 5, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has determined two additional days can be added to the private angler recreational season. The additional days will begin 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2019, and run until midnight on Sunday, September 1, 2019.

Orange Beach Festival of Art ranked among top shows in nation

August 13, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - For the first time, the Orange Beach Festival of Art has broken into Sunshine Artist magazine's Top 200 rankings.

Gulf Shores September concerts on the green at the beach

August 12, 2019 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - The City of Gulf Shores is excited to announce the 2019 Sunset Series, coming to Gulf Place Town Green and Public Beach. The 2019 Sunset Series will consist of four events on the following dates: September 5, September 12, September 19 and September 26.

Cancer patients, families treated to Orange Beach vacation

Eight cancer patients and their families will be treated to a beach Vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama, Aug. 18-24.

By John Mullen

August 12, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Orange Beach is a community known for coming together to help those in need especially organizations like Operation Reconnect, a program that brings in families of servicemen coming home from active duty overseas.

Operation Reconnect runs the retreats a couple of times per year and helps families from all the over the country with a relaxing time to reestablish those family bonds after tours of duty. In April, 37 families enjoyed a stay at the beach and organizers are hoping to bring in 100 more Sept. 21-28.

OBPD Press Release about Head on collision on the Perdido Pass Bridge

By Orange Beach Police Dept.

August 12, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - On August 10, 2019 at approximately 12:36 a.m. a call was received of a possible head on collision on the Alabama Point Bridge.

Units arrived to find a head on between a Toyota Tacoma and a Jeep Liberty. All occupants had to be extricated from their vehicles.

Orange Beach schools learn to start from scratch

By John Mullen

August 12, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Starting from scratch means starting from scratch as administrators at the new Orange Beach schools and city officials pitching in with financial help are finding out.

“None of us have ever started a school, none of them have ever started a school,” Mayor Tony Kennon said. “It was at the very best controlled chaos and it’s still chaos. You walk in and realize I don’t have trash cans and that type of thing.”

Orange Beach Planning Commission to meet August 12

Orange Beach Planning Commission Meeting Agenda

August 11, 2029 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 2:30 p.m. Monday, August 12th for a work session followed by the 4 p.m. regular meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

OWA Opens Coastal Alabama’s 1st State-of-the-Art eSports Center

August 8, 2019 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - Looking for the best gaming around? OWA’s newest entertainment attraction is the place to be! Clash eSports Center (Clash) is a high-end video gaming facility located within Downtown OWA—the complex’s entertainment, dining, and shopping area.

Inside the center, visitors will find 26 state-of-the-art PCs, equipped with Corsair chairs, headsets, and everything else needed to complete the ultimate video gaming experience. Grab a group of friends and enjoy Xbox or Nintendo Switch play in Clash’s “living room” setup. From cozy chairs to cup holders, it’s just like being at home—except with larger TVs, more than 50 total games, and the competitive eSports atmosphere!

Safety concerns bringing changes to entrance at McDonald's

Traffic fix on Alabama 161 at the Orange Beach McDonald's have nothing to do with a proposed bypass in the same area.

By John Mullen

August 8, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Rumors of work starting on a bypass from Canal Road behind Big Fish, Frank & Co. and Your CBD Store intersecting with Alabama 161 south of McDonald’s are greatly exaggerated, Mayor Tony Kennon said.

Changes are coming at the Alabama 161 part aimed at improving safety in what has become a dangerous entrance-exit to McDonald’s including a head-on collision there on the morning of Aug. 7.

City of Gulf Shores announces Movies at Meyer Park series beginning October 3

By City of Gulf Shores

August 7, 2019 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - The City of Gulf Shores is excited to announce the second annual Movies at Meyer Park series, scheduled for October 3, October 17 and October 24. Locals and visitors are invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets and join us at Meyer Park for a movie under the stars.

New Orange Beach schools will open with 42 staff members

Students will move into the new school, top photo, and performing arts center, left, in the fall of 2020. The city is planning on building an athletic complex, right, to support the school..

By John Mullen

August 6, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – A total of 42 staffers will be on hand Aug. 14 to open the first day at the new Orange Beach High School and Middle School. It’s the strength of those people, principal Dr. Erika McCoy says, that will determine the success of the schools.

“If you don’t get anything else right, get the people right,” McCoy said. “Because the people are what make the difference in our schools. If you look at our people from the top down – our custodians, our workers, our bus drivers, our teachers, our coaches and those that are going help with activities – they are student-centered people. All of these have a heart for kids. We built a team of servants.”

Orange Beach gets first fiber home service, more planned

Courtney Creel, left, and Mickey Franco of Island Fiber. Creel's family is the first neighborhood residence to have light-speed residential internet service in Orange Beach.

By John Mullen

August 5, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Courtney Creel and her family of Orange Beach received residential light-speed internet service with full home Wi-Fi coverage.

“It is wonderful,” Creel said. “We’ve had it for a couple of days and I am obsessed.”

Future projects aimed at north-south traffic in South Baldwin

By John Mullen

August 2, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – While two roadway projects in Foley are pretty much done deals, the city and Baldwin County also have an eye on the future as officials announced efforts to get grants to jump start at least two road projects.

Coastal Arts Center to host Local Arts open house on August 24th

August 1, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach invites the public to Celebrate Local Arts on Saturday, August 24th.

The free event and open house will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. where the public can enjoy the center’s art gallery overlooking Wolf Bay, crafts, music, and works by local artists. Hot glass and clay classes will be available by appointment.

The Coastal Arts Center is at 26389 Canal Road. For more information, call 251-981-ARTS (2787) or visit www.coastalartscenter.com.

OBPD 2019 Citizens’ Police Academy registration underway

By City of Orange Beach

July 31, 2019 - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Police Department is seeking participants for its 2019 Citizens’ Police Academy.

The Academy will be held from September 3 to October 15. Classes are free and will be held Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Applications must be turned in by Friday, August 23.

Captain takes photos of rare birds following charter boat

July 30, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Capt. Mike Rowell of Annie Girl Charters has spied some unusual sights in his many years heading out into the Gulf for fishing trips.

“I saw a great white shark about 40 years ago and nobody believed me,” Rowell said with a laugh. “Now we know there are great white sharks out in the Gulf.”

Saltwater Fishing Regulation Changes Take Effect on August 1

July 30, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Alabama Marine Resources Division reminds saltwater anglers of the upcoming regulation changes that go into effect on August 1, 2019. The regulation changes are listed below.

Death reported in east Orange Beach house fire

Death reported in Orange Beach house fire on July 27.

By John Mullen

July 27, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – Orange Beach fire officials are reporting a death in a house fire at the east end of town just off Canal Road. At about 5:50 on July 27, The Orange Beach Fire Department announced the man killed was Raymond P. Trahan, 51 of Rayne, Louisiana.

CBD oil store cutting ribbon in Orange Beach

By John Mullen

July 24, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL – (OBA^®) – When family members first approached Paul Konecny about getting into the CBD oil retail business, he was a little skeptical.

“I’ve never done a drug in my entire life and when my family tried to push me to get into it, I was reluctant at first,” Konecny said. “I was always a business-minded person but like a lot of people, I didn’t understand the difference between hemp and marijuana and things of that nature. Not that I’m against marijuana. I think it’s probably safer than alcohol and other things people do. But it was taboo to me because it was against the law.

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.