The OBA Community Website

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

Oyster Beds closed in Mobile Bay

By the Alabama Dept. of Public Health

February 25, 2019 - Mobile Bay Area - (OBA^®) - The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has closed shellfish growing waters in Baldwin and Mobile counties. Areas I, II, III, IV, V and VI are closed. This includes Cedar Point, Portersville Bay, Heron Bay, Navy Cove and Dauphin Island Bay.

OBPD K9 unit adds two new members

By Orange Beach Police Dept.

February 25, 2019 - (OBA^®) - Thanks to the support of the City of Orange Beach and the Orange Beach Police Benevolent Fund and the kind generosity of our citizens who supported their efforts with the Paw Ball Fundraiser, we were able to purchase two new canines for the canine program.

After 10 Weeks of training with their handlers, Canine Officers Bane and Magnum have joined the force.

Orange Beach Festival of Art returns March 9-10

February 24, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - While any day is a good day to go to the beach, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach is offering a great excuse to visit Pleasure Island in March — the 45th annual Orange Beach Festival of Art is set for March 9-10.

The festival will feature 100 booths of local and regional fine art, plus exciting acts on the performing arts and music stages. Festival goers may also enjoy live visual arts demonstrations including hot glass and clay. Savory gourmet offerings will be presented in the Culinary Arts area and children can dive into fun hands-on experiences in the Kids Art Alley.

Senior Activity Center March 2019 Excursions and Events

Orange Beach Senior Center March Calendar

February 23, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Adult/Senior Activity Center has announced its March 2019 Excursions and Events. Call 251-981-3440 to sign up for any of the events listed below.

Debbie Williams from WKRG to speak at March Potluck

February 23, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Monthly Community Potluck will be held Monday, March 4th at the Orange Beach Community Center, featuring Debbie Williams, WKRG Channel 5 Baldwin County reporter. Debbie will be discussing her work in the area.

Nation’s largest artificial reef program expands with eight new zones

By Outdoor Alabama

Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship (center) and honorees at a naming ceremony for eight new artificial reef zones in waters off the coast of Alabama. The ceremony took place at the Dunes Terrace at the Gulf State Park Lodge in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Photo by Billy Pope, ADCNR

February 22, 2019 - Gulf State Park - (OBA^®) - On February 22, 2019, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) held a naming ceremony for eight new artificial reef zones in waters off the coast of Alabama. The ceremony took place at the Dunes Terrace at the Gulf State Park Lodge in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show Saturday

By City of Orange Beach

February 22, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The 27th Annual Orange Beach Seafood Festival and Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 at The Wharf on Main Street.

Principals announced for new Orange Beach Schools

By Baldwin County Publis Schools

Februray 21, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Superintendent Eddie Tyler is proud to announce that Dr. Robbie Smith is the new principal of Orange Beach Middle School and Dr. Erika McCoy is the new principal of Orange Beach High School. The Baldwin County Board of Education approved the appointments of these two principals at its board meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Meyer Park playground closed to public for renovation and improvements

By City of Gulf Shores

February 21, 2019 - Gulf Shores, Ala – (OBA^®) – The City of Gulf Shores is excited to announce the upcoming Meyer Park Improvement Project, which will improve and reconfigure the existing Meyer Park playground area located in the Waterway Village District at 400 East 22 nd Avenue. The current playground area at Meyer Park will be closed for demolition and construction beginning on Monday, March 4.

Orange Beach to help fund Alabama, Auburn tar ball study

City of Orange Beach, Alabama, logo By John Mullen

February 21, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – In a partnership Mayor Tony Kennon says is a precursor to the marine research center the city is planning to build, researchers from the University of Alabama and Auburn University are planning a tarball field study.

“This is a really, really big deal because it’s the first collaborative effort between two major universities through our new research center,” Kennon said the dual city council regular and work sessions on Feb. 19. “It will be a tri-party agreement because we would help with the funding.”

Kennon said future projects will not likely require the city to help with the funding.

This is a great example of what’s to come and most of what’s coming won’t be with us having to fund it. We’re excited about this.

Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, state have alcohol rules year round

By John Mullen

February 21, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA®) – It has been illegal to possess alcohol on state park beaches in Orange Beach and city public beaches in Gulf Shores for years. And, not just during the spring break season in Gulf Shores.

On other public beaches not controlled by either the state park or the city, alcohol is permitted except during the Gulf Shores spring ban. Those include land south of the mean high tide line that is south of beach houses, condos or hotels. This year the ban will be in place from March 2 through April 28.

Search Warrant Leads to Drug Trafficking Arrest

By Foley Police Dept.

February 18, 2019 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - On the afternoon of February 15, 2019, Foley Police along with members of the South Baldwin Special Response Team served a narcotics search warrant at 1707 South Oak Street in Foley. The subsequent search led to the recovery of 188 grams of synthetic cannabinoid, also known as "Spice".

Terry Cove Intersection Improvements

February 16, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Improvements at the intersection of Terry Cove Drive at State Highway 161/Orange Beach Boulevard are underway.

Orange Beach City Council meeting February 19th

orange beach boat logo February 16, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach City Council will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 19th, followed by the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Orange Beach Police Department's strategies & stats

by City of Orange Beach

February 15, 2019 - (OBA^®) - It’s important to remember during the day-to-day happenings throughout Orange Beach, the city is always focused on ensuring the community is clean and safe for residents and visitors alike.

The city’s focus on safety was recognized recently as Orange Beach was ranked one of the top 10 safest cities in Alabama in a report based on 2017 FBI statistics.

Saying goodbye to a childhood hero who was also your brother

OBA Editor's note: John Mullen, who writes most of our articles, recounts memories of his big brother in a heartfelt column following his passing today, Feb.14, Valentine's Day.

By John Mullen

February 15, 2019, - Orange Beach, AL - You do silly things when you’re a child. Like when you’re scared at night.

I had a brother who was five years older than me and we shared a bed as youngsters. I had typical childhood nighttime fears for no reason whatsoever.

Gulf Shores PD Community Video Surveillance Program

Press Release by Gulf Shores Police Dept.

February 14, 2019 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - Video surveillance is one of the best methods for apprehending criminals and convicting suspects who are caught in the act of committing a crime. Installing video surveillance is a great example of community-police partnerships and is something we highly value as a police agency serving our community.

Columbus Ships Pinta & Nina coming to Orange Beach

Columbus Ships February 13, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - On Friday, February 15 the ‘Pinta’ and the ‘Nina’, replicas of Columbus’ Ships, will open in Orange Beach. The ships will be docked at The Wharf, 23101 Canal Road, until their departure early Monday morning, February 25th.

The ‘Nina’ was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine called the ship “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” In 2005, the ‘Pinta’, also a caravel, was launched in Brazil and was the first ship to sight land in the New World. Historians consider the caravel the Space Shuttle of the fifteenth century.

Future firefighters sought; spring recruit school starts March 15 in Orange Beach

Orange Beach Fire Dept. Training By City of Orange Beach

February 12, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Fire Department is looking for motivated, hardworking individuals who are interested in a career in the fire service.

The department’s spring recruit school starts March 15th, and space is limited. Completion of this 9-week recruit school provides the individual with Firefighter I/II certifications, as well as experience in a career fire department. The only prerequisite required to apply is having an up-to-date CPAT certification. Housing and a stipend is provided for the residents.

Charter boats can fish 7 days a week for red snapper

Red snapper season for charter boats starts on June 1 in Orange Beach, Alabama. By John Mullen

February 12, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – It gets lost in the confusion, Kelly Annan says, when the recreational red snapper fishing is announced as only three-day weekends June 1 through July 28.

“The news came on and flashed on the screen ‘snapper season starts June 1, three-day weekend only,’” Annan said. “I’m like, why are they doing that?”

Preparation Begins for the 48th Annual National Shrimp Festival

Velcro Pygmies at Shrimp Fest in Gulf Shores

February 11, 2019 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - The Annual National Shrimp Festival has recently begun accepting applications to take part in the 48th edition of the festival happening October 10th through 13th in Gulf Shores.

The festival draws an average of 250,000 people during a four day period and has been a tradition in the area since 1971. Merchandise, food, activities, and musical acts from all different genres are just a few things that fill the action packed weekend.

People of Orange Beach: Meet Public Works Director Tim Tucker

By the City of Orange Beach

February 11, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The city is excited to introduce a new series of profiles highlighting Orange Beach employees, officials, and community movers and shakers.

Our city is successful because of the hard work of many individuals inside and outside of City Hall and this is an effort to get to know them.

Orange Beach Public Works Director Tim Tucker was gracious enough to kick off the series and sat down for an interview at his office in the Public Works building on William Silvers Parkway. To keep this simple, only five questions are asked.

WhiteSky latest to explore Orange Beach fiber options

Jerry Johnson, Orange Beach, Alabama, councilman

By John Mullen

February 11, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – Orange Beach continues to look for options to bring fiber internet cable into its neighborhoods and is working with several companies to make that happen.

The latest entry in the fiber sweepstakes is one called WhiteSky out of Tuscaloosa which is planning to start asking residents of specific neighborhoods if they are interested in having fiber in their homes. If enough agree to sign up then efforts can begin in earnest.

“Once we get the marketing materials together and get the name out there in the area we are going to start marketing ourselves as a fiber to the home provider,” WhiteSky’s Matt Amick said. “Within the next month or two we’re really going to start working on it.”

Reef Naming Ceremony at Gulf State Park Feb. 22

By Outdoor Alabama

February 10, 2019 - Gulf State Park, AL - (OBA^®) - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will hold an artificial reef zone naming ceremony at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Ala., on February 22, 2019. The ceremony will take place at the Dunes Terrace at the Gulf State Park Lodge at 2 p.m. The media is invited to attend.

Orange Beach Planning Commission meet February 11th

February 9, 2019 - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Monday, February 11th for its regular meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Bay Circle historical marker unveiled as part of Alabama 200 celebration

February 9, 2019 - (OBA^®) - City officials and the Orange Beach community gathered on February 5th to unveil the city’s newest historical marker at Bay Circle and Canal Road, adjacent to Waterfront Park.

As the Bay Circle marker states, “This area, located along the southern shore of Wolf Bay, was the original ‘DOWNTOWN’ of Orange Beach.” Before automobile industry took hold, the bayfront was the city’s main thoroughfare.

Local farmer/inventor revolutionizing the world of organic farming

Eddie Boy Woerner's steam pasteurization of soil is revolutionizing organic farming. By John Mullen

February 7, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA®) – The infectious laughter of Eddie Boy Woerner filled the upstairs dining room and bar at Flipper’s Seafood and Oyster Bar to the rafters.

Eddie Boy was talking about one his favorite topics: How a farm boy from Elberta is changing the world of organic farming by treating soil with steam.

“I’ve invented a process that’s going to change agriculture forever,” Eddie Boy told a visiting group who requested an audience with the farming innovator. “Until I die, I’m going to be the Coca Cola of soil pasteurization.”

Orange Beach working on land swap, tax deal with The Wharf

Orange Beach, Alabama, city logo. By John Mullen

February 7, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA®) – The Orange Beach City Council bought one parcel of land at its Feb. 5 meeting and announced it is making moves to acquire two others in an expenditure of about $2 million.

A deal working with The Wharf may allow for a land swap getting the city a parcel between the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach and the Wind and Water Learning Center. The proposal, if carried out, will give the city ownership of Wolf Bay waterfront from Waterfront Park west to the Adult Activity Center.

“It’s the waterfront property that adjoins our art center complex,” Mayor Tony Kennon said. “It will connect and all of that will be ours. It’s a really good win for us, I think.”

Intertwined in the transaction will be an extension of the tax rebate deal The Wharf received when it was built just more than 10 years ago. In the agreement, the development will keep 50 percent of the city’s sales and lodging taxes generated.

5th Annual Zydeco & Crawfish Festival coming April 20

February 6, 2019 - Gulf Shores, AL - (OBA^®) - The Waterway Village Zydeco and Crawfish Festival boils up a beaucoup of fun on Saturday, April 20 in Gulf Shores. Locals and visitors are invited to sink their teeth into hot, juicy crawfish throughout the day while dancing to the infectious rhythms of some of the best Zydeco bands from around the South. There will be arts and crafts vendors and children's activities.

Alabama Announces 2019 Private Angler Red Snapper Fishing Season

Red Snapper Season 2019 February 6, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - For the second year, Alabama is operating under an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) from NOAA Fisheries to allow state fisheries management agencies more flexibility to set private angler red snapper fishing seasons.

In accordance with the EFP requirements, the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announces the following red snapper season information: