OBA Community Website

Covering the Orange Beach Area (OBA^®) since 2006!

BP Deploying Advanced Unmanned Water Quality Monitoring Vehicles in Gulf of Mexico

Submitted by BP America

August 25, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - THEODORE, AL – As part of its long term monitoring and research program in the Gulf of Mexico, BP is deploying a new technology that will enable nearly constant monitoring by two satellite-controlled, unmanned vehicles.

The vehicles, known as Wave Gliders and developed by Liquid Robotics in Silicon Valley, California, get their propulsion power from wave action and use solar power for their electronics. They will be deployed beginning today and begin a months-long, ongoing research program in the Gulf of Mexico.

This is the first application of this technology in the Gulf of Mexico.

Orange Beach Dog Park Grand Opening

Submitted by Angela Bateman

August 24, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Orange Beach—if you are a dog lover, with pups bursting with energy, then mark your calendar for Monday, August 30, 2010. Unleashed in Orange Beach will be hosting the Grand Opening of the first leash free dog park in Orange Beach. The “leash cutting” ceremony will be at 6pm.

St. Peter's Fish Fry - Featuring the Sandspur Band

Submitted by Andie Mewbourn

August 24, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Once again, the mullet are present in Bon Secour for the St. Peter's of Bon Secour Episcopal Church Fish Fry on Thursday, September 2, 2010 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. September's featured guests will be the Sandspur Band of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Take the night off from cooking and enjoy delicious food, great fellowship and awesome entertainment!

Gulf Coast Claims Facility Now Processing Oil Spill Claims

August 23, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Gulf Coast Claims Facility Administrator Kenneth R. Feinberg today announced the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) is fully functioning and will begin to process claims for emergency payment. All individual and business claims and supporting documentation have been transferred from BP to the GCCF, which is an independent facility run by Feinberg.

The GCCF was established in June as part of an agreement between the Obama Administration and BP to assist claimants in filing claims for costs and damages incurred as a result of the oil spill stemming from the Deepwater Horizon Incident of April 20, 2010. Claims previously filed with the BP Claims Process have been transitioned to the new GCCF Claims Facility for review, evaluation and determination, however claimants will be required to file new forms with the GCCF to receive payments.

Ken Feinberg's August 21st Town Hall Meeting in Orange Beach

August 21, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - BP Claims Pay Czar Ken Feinberg held his second Town Hall Meeting here in Orange Beach this morning. Below is the video from that meeting.

After the Orange Beach Meeting Feinberg traveled to Gulf Shores, Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island to conduct similar meetings for those communities.

According to Mr. Feinberg, he will be back for more town hall meetings in the near future, once the Gulf Coast Claims Center is underway.

Feinberg Meeting - August 21, 2010 - Part I of II

Feinberg Meeting - August 21, 2010 - Part II of II

Orange Beach Town Hall Meeting - August 18, 2010

August 21, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The three video clips below are from the last of the scheduled Orange Beach Town Hall Meetings about the BP Oil Spill. City officials plan to have another Town Hall Meeting in about a month. We'll post any updates here on The OBA Website.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - Part I of III

Gulf Council Votes for Fall Red Snapper Season

By Outdoor Alabama

August 21, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Pending approval by NOAA Fisheries, anglers along the Alabama Gulf Coast will be able to catch red snapper this fall.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted 11-5 to pass an emergency rule to establish a fall red snapper season in Gulf waters that will allow anglers to fish each weekend (12:01 a.m. Friday to 12:01 a.m. Monday) from Oct. 1 to Nov. 22, a total of 24 fishing days.

The fishing closures of much of the Gulf of Mexico due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill greatly limited the red snapper catch during the season that closed on July 24. The red snapper catch was estimated at 1.1 million pounds, which meant that 2.3 million pounds of the 3.4-million-pound quota remained.

Orange Beach Elementary School Wins $2,000 Worth of School Supplies from Remington College-Mobile Campus

Submitted by Vanessa Karol

August 20, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The votes are in and Orange Beach Elementary School will receive $2,000 worth of school supplies from Remington College-Mobile Campus.

Orange Beach Elementary received the most votes in Remington College’s Adopt Our School program, an effort by Remington College to assist local public schools with up to $2,000 worth of school supplies. Nominations and voting were done online by the public.

Gulf Coast Claims Facility Releases Protocol for Emergency Advance Payment

Independent Administrator Ken Feinberg Announces Final Guidelines for Emergency Relief Payments from the Fund.

August 20, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - In anticipation of the August 23rd opening of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), Administrator Kenneth R. Feinberg, today released the “Emergency Protocol” guidelines. The guidelines have been established to assist claimants in filing claims for costs and damages incurred as a result of the oil spill resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Incident of April 20, 2010.

Backbay Booms to be Removed by Saturday

Submitted by Angela Bateman

August 19, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA)- According to Orange Beach City staff, boom removal in Orange Beach back bays could begin as early as Friday, August 20. This will include the boom around the boom around Robinson Island, a popular destination for boaters and the boom in Cotton Bayou where the only open public boat launch is located. The boom removal is forecast to take two days, weather permitting.

The decision to remove the boom was made by Unified Command. This decision was based on the observation that the nature of the product (submerged and emulsified oil) that has been found in the back bays over the past few weeks is not the type of product that is effectively contained by the hard boom that is currently in place. Coast Guard officials have promised the City that they are prepared to place absorbent boom at any location should the need arise.

For more information, please contact Kit Alexander, Environmental and Engineering Services, City of Orange Beach, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 251-981-2610.

BP Readies for Transfer to Gulf Coast Claims Facility as Claim Payouts Top $368 Million

August 17, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - - BP’s claims team, which has paid $368 million to individuals and businesses, is in the final stages of preparing to transfer responsibility for individual and business claims related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) on August 23.

All Alabama Waters Now Open for Fishing

August 17, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division (MRD) announces the re-opening to the harvest of fish from all areas previously closed as a precautionary response to the presence of oil from the Deepwater Horizon Incident. These areas include all Alabama Gulf of Mexico waters out to three miles and the remaining closed waters of Mobile Bay that are just north of the Fort Morgan Peninsula. These waters reopened at 6 a.m., Monday, August 16. This includes both commercial and recreational fishing. In addition to finfish, the area north of Fort Morgan is also open to shrimping.

Ken Feinberg Returns to the Alabama Gulf Coast

August 16, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - BP Claims Czar Kenneth Feinberg will return to the Alabama Gulf Coast on Saturday August 21st for a series of meetings in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Bayou La Batre, and Dauphin Island.

Feinberg's day will start early with a town hall meeting at the Recreation Center in Orange Beach at 6:45am. He will then travel to Gulf Shores High School for a second meeting at 8:00am. There will be a 15 minute press conference at 9:00am after which he will head back to the Jack Edwards Airport.

Second Concert Announced for Alabama Beaches

by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Toruism

August 13, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Rowdy Friends 2010 Tour – featuring country legend Hank Williams, Jr., Gretchen Wilson and Lee Brice – will take the stage at The Wharf’s Amphitheater on Saturday, September 25 as part of an on-going concert series sponsored by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. The show begins at 7 p.m.

From 10 a.m. August 18 to 6 p.m. August 19, Baldwin County residents may purchase up to 4 tickets from The Wharf Store located in Shucker’s Oyster Bar, The Wharf’s box office located at the amphitheater or from the Ticketmaster located inside the Orange Beach Publix. Tickets will be $10 each, and Baldwin County residents must present identification at the time of sale.

For Gulf Coast Businesses - a Silver Lining in a Dark Cloud

August 13, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - It has been said that every dark cloud has a silver lining. While it has been hard to find the silver lining in the dark BP Oil cloud, for businesses in Foley, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach one has emerged.

When the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig exploded on April 20th, everyone was focused on the horrible loss of life and injuries of the people working on the oil rig. Then thoughts turned to the environmental disaster that followed. It wasn't until the oil flowed unimpeded into the Gulf of Mexico for several days that people along the Gulf Coast realized that this was not just an environmental disaster a hundred miles out in the gulf, it was one that was going to negatively affect the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas.

Gulf Coast business owners waited and watched as the dark cloud of oil approached our beaches. As the oil moved ever closer to the Alabama Gulf Coast and as the national media endlessly covered the story, phones started ringing with vacationers canceling their reservations. Because our area's primary industry is the $2.6 billion tourism business, people who owned and worked at the local businesses became nervous about the disaster that was unfolding before their eyes. They started wondering how bad this disaster was going to affect them. It didn't take long for these fears to turn into reality.

Orange Beach Town Hall Meeting - August 11, 2010

August 13, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Below are the videos from this weeks Orange Beach Town Hall Meeting about the BP Oil Spill. The first video consists of the opening comments by city officials and guest speakers. The second and third videos consist of the questions and answers from the audience.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - Presentation

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - Questions & Answers Part I

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - Questions & Answers Part II

Cleanup Crews Respond Immediately to Clean Up Oil Reported Following Wednesday’s Storm Surge

by Joint Command External Affairs

August 12, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - MOBILE Ala. – Cleanup crews responded immediately to oily material deposited by Wednesday’s storm surge on a 1,000-foot long by 10-foot wide area of Gulf State Park in Alabama. The presence of oily debris on the beaches is a result of rough surf. Storms expose oil that would otherwise be difficult to locate and contain with appropriate cleanup resources.

“Isolated and sporadic shoreline impacts may continue as oil that remains in the Gulf of Mexico continues to break down and biodegrade,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Steven Poulin, Mobile Incident Commander. “We remain fully committed to this response and will remove any oily material from beaches as quickly as possible so that people can continue to enjoy the beauty of the Gulf Coast.”

Indian War Monument Dedication

by Gloria Bitto, Baldwin County Dept. of History and Archives

August 11, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - BAY MINETTE, AL – The Baldwin County Commission Department of Archives and History will host the Indian War Monument Dedication on August 21, 2010, 11:00 a.m. at the Baldwin County Bicentennial Park in Stockton, AL. Special Guest speakers will be Representative Harry Shiver and The Honorable Richard Abell. The Order of Indian Wars of the United States will also participating in the dedication. Re-enactors will be performing and the event is free to the public.

NOAA Reopens More than 5,000 Square Miles of Closed Gulf Fishing Area

August 10, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Today NOAA reopened 5,144 square miles of Gulf waters to commercial and recreational finfish fishing. The reopening was announced after consultation with FDA and under a re-opening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.

Since July 3, NOAA data have shown no oil in the area, and United States Coast Guard observers flying over the area in the last 30 days have also not observed any oil. Trajectory models show the area is at a low risk for future exposure to oil and, most importantly, fish caught in the area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of contamination.

Orange Beach Town Hall Meeting - August 4, 2010

August 9, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - This week's BP Oil Spill Town Hall Meeting focused primarily on the Vessels of Opportunity (VOO).

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - Presentation

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - Questions & Answers Part I

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - Questions & Answers Part II

BP Forms Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Escrow Trust

by BP Press Relations

August 9, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - BP announced today that it has established a trust and made a $3 billion initial deposit of the previously-announced $20 billion escrow account to pay legitimate claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon incident and the resulting oil and gas spill.

“The purpose of the escrow account was to assure those adversely affected by the spill that we indeed intend to stand behind our commitment to them and to the American taxpayers,” said Bob Dudley, CEO of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization. “Establishing this trust and making the initial deposit ahead of schedule further demonstrates our commitment to making it right in the Gulf Coast.”

Some Alabama Waters to Reopen for Fishing

by Outdoor Alabama

August 8, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division announces that Alabama state waters west of the Dauphin Island Bridge and north of Dauphin Island that were closed as a precautionary measure due to the Deepwater Horizon disaster will reopen for recreational and commercial fishing effective at 6 a.m. August 8, 2010. All areas in Mississippi Sound not permanently closed will also reopen for shrimping at this time.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concluded that the conditions for reopening specified in the agreed upon reopening protocol have been met for finfish and shrimp in the area designated in the July 26, 2010, Alabama Marine Resources Division proposal (Mississippi Sound). According to the FDA, such seafood should pose no food safety risk associated with contamination from the Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire and oil spill.

FWC rescuing oil-impacted sea turtles with help from Gulf fishermen

Submitted by Florida Wildlife Commission

August 6, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Although the effects of the oil spill are decreasing in Florida, the threat to wildlife remains. Biologists and commercial charter boat fishermen are teaming up to help oil-impacted sea turtles in the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

In a cooperative effort with Deepwater Horizon Unified Command and partner agencies, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists rescue sea turtles while gathering data to assess the effects of the oil spill on sea turtle populations.

Incoming Spill Claims Czar Will Drop BP's Contractor

by Sasha Chavkin, ProPublica

August 5, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Kenneth Feinberg, the independent paymaster chosen by President Obama to administer damage claims from the Gulf oil spill, will drop the contractor that BP has been using to manage the claims process and hire two new companies to replace it.

Feinberg is expected to take over the claims system from BP In mid-August. Feinberg He will replace BP's primary contractor for claims, ESIS Inc., with two other firms when he assumes control of the process, said Feinberg's spokeswoman Amy Weiss said. She did not say why ESIS was being replaced.

Fishery Council seeks public input on possible red snapper season reopening

By Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

August 5, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - This spring, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council increased the overall red snapper quota from 5.0 million pounds to 6.945 million pounds, yet the 2010 recreational red snapper season was open for only 53 days. This shortened season was due, in part, to an increase in catch rates and the average size of red snapper. This increase, coupled with past effort, led to projections that the quota would be filled sooner than in 2009. But the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and subsequent federal fishing area closure may have resulted in reduced effort, possibly leaving the recreational red snapper quota unfilled.

Powerboat Race is Back on in Orange Beach

From www.ThunderOnTheGulf.com

August 4, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Gulf Coast Powerboat Association is happy to announce that the powerboat event on the liquid racecourse in the gulf is back on for the week of October 11-17, 2010. After the fright of the oil spill, Thunder on the Gulf is in our forecast for Orange Beach! This spectacular venue known for its sugary white sands and southern hospitality will host an action packed week with multiple races. Boats will begin arriving at the beginning of the week! Come see OPA and the sport of powerboat racing first hand at its finest.

Also, there will be numerous events for the family to attend, don't forget to get your VIP passes, which will be released soon. Come meet the racers or check out massive race boats in the dry pits or settle in to a condo or on the beach to hear the rumble of horsepower across the water.You don't want to miss this amazing experience! There will be more information to come soon. See you at the races!

BP Takes Action to Fast-Track Claims for Gulf Coast Businesses

Submitted by BP Press Relations

August 3, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - HOUSTON – BP said today it has instituted a series of actions to expedite claim payments to businesses impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including establishing an Immediate Action Claims Team.

“While we have paid thousands of business claims over the past 13 weeks, we recognize the frustration of small business owners who still have claims pending as we transition from the BP claims process to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility,” said Darryl Willis, of the BP Claims Team. “We heard from many businesspeople who are suffering, so we acted. These changes are designed to cut through paperwork and expedite payments.”

After School Arts Program at Orange Beach Art Center

Submitted by Wanda Price

August 3, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - An exciting year has been planned for the After School Arts Program at the Orange Beach Arts Center. The purpose of ASAP is to merge fun arts learning with affordable after school care. Children can come once a week or everyday.

The After School Arts Program (ASAP) at the Orange Beach Arts Center begins Monday August 16th and runs throughout the school year. ASAP is First to Sixth graders operating every school day from 3 pm-6pm with transportation from Gulf Shores Elementary and Orange Beach Elementary.

Cotton Bayou Boat Launch Reopens

August 2, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Another sign that things are returning to normal. Today the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Barnett Lawley announced that Cotton Bayou boat launch in Orange Beach, Alabama is now open. An “Idle Speed Only-No Wake” order is still in effect for Cotton Bayou, Terry Cove and Bayou St. John.

The Hot Shop Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Submitted by Wanda Price

August 1, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Hot Shop at The Orange Beach Arts Center, a public access glass studio, will celebrate its one year anniversary on Friday, August 20, 2010 from 6-9pm by throwing a birthday party. Everyone is invited to The Hot Shop Birthday Bash which will include live glass blowing demos with guest artist Mark Leputa from Orbix Hot Glass. In addition, there will be pottery demonstrations by famed Gulf Shores potters, Steve and Dee Burrow of Sea Oats Studio. Mosaic artist Connie Blum will lead a public art project in which all ages can participate.

Special guest, Bob the Art Car will be on campus after weeks of roaming the community and ready for his new skin designed by “birthday bash-keteers”. Popular Mobile based Roman Street will provide a musical backdrop with their ‘new flemenco’ sound. There will also be a live auction, raffles, and great food.