New Speed Limits and School Board Appointment in Gulf Shores Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The Gulf Shores City Council met in a regular session in council chambers at city hall on April 22 including approving $2.9 million in expense vouchers including $2.2 million most going for the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability, Waterway East Boulevard extension and the widening of State Route 59 project. The city also bought a zero-turn mower for $51,000 and operational expenses totaled $687,000.   During the meeting, the council:   Declared May as Bike Month in the city of G ..read more

Foley's Annual Art Festival Celebrates Mother's Day Weekend Foley, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The Foley Art Center is gearing up for the 52nd annual "Art in the Park" event, set to take place, as always, on Mother's Day weekend. Mother’s Day is 3 weeks from today, falling on May 12th. The Art in the Park event takes place May 11th-12th. This juried fine arts show features over 90 artists and craftspeople from across the Southeast, showcasing their talents in downtown Foley's Heritage Park. The event has grown to attract thousands of attendees each year since its inception in 1971.  In addition ..read more

Gulf Shores Spring Break Arrests Breakdown Gulf Shores, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The 2024 spring break season in Gulf Shores, Alabama has come to a close, and the law enforcement has just released the arrest numbers.  Over the course of the spring break period from March 1st to April 21st, the Gulf Shores Police Department made a total of 286 arrests. Last year almost 400 people were put behind bars. The majority of this year’s arrests, 141 in total, were for underage possession of alcohol. Drug violations accounted for 80 arrests, while 17 people were arrested for public intoxication. Anothe ..read more

Orange Beach Hosts First Stop of Alabama's "Tide on Tour" Event Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The University of Alabama is relaunching its past tour event, "Crimson Caravan," as the new and improved "Tide on Tour." The three-city tour, beginning in Orange Beach, will feature Alabama Football Head Coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Men's Basketball Head Coach Nate Oats, and Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, as well as current UA student-athletes. The first stop on the "Tide on Tour" will be on Saturday, April 27 at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama. Tickets for the event we ..read more

Celebrating the Gulf Coast's Iconic Tradition Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The Gulf Coast's most peculiar event, the Mullet Toss, is set to entertain locals and visitors alike at the Flora-Bama. This annual spectacle, scheduled for the last full weekend of April, offers an opportunity for attendees to witness the quirky sport of mullet tossing, while also serving as a significant fundraiser for local youth charities. The Origins of the Mullet Toss The Mullet Toss has become a hallmark of Gulf Coast culture since its inception in the mid-1980s. The idea was first proposed by Flora-Bama mus ..read more

Developers Eye Gulf Shores ReMax Building Location for New 100-Seat Eatery Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Developers will present a plan to the Gulf Shores Planning Commission on April 23 to build a new restaurant building at the intersection of Windmill Ridge Road and Gulf Shores Parkway across from the Original Oyster House. The new restaurant will be called Gulf Shores Ale House.   The commission will meet at city hall in council chambers at 4 p.m. on April 23.   “The applicant requests site plan approval for a two-story, 100-seat restaurant,” a memo to the commission from City Pla ..read more

Fewer Arrests Mark Safer Spring Break in Orange Beach Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – The Orange Beach Police Department had a relatively quiet Spring Break, compared to previous years. Arrests were down by almost 70% in 2024. The number of arrests during the 2023 spring break season was close to 200. According to the data just released, there were a total of 61 arrests directly related to spring break activities. The majority of the arrests, 48 in total, were for minors in possession of alcohol. An additional 4 arrests were made for public intoxication, 3 arrests for driving under the influ ..read more

Authorities Investigate Diver's Death at the Wharf Marina Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a diver from Louisiana was found dead in the water at The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach. According to the Orange Beach Police Department, the diver had been cleaning his boat around 7:30 AM but did not resurface. Officers were called to the scene around 1:00 PM and discovered the diver's body after deploying multiple dive teams. The body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy, but investigators do not suspect foul play.  The incident is ..read more

Earth Day has been around since 1970 Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – Today, April 22nd, marks the annual celebration of Earth Day - a global event that has inspired millions to take action for the environment since its inception over 50 years ago.  The origins of Earth Day can be traced back to 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called for a nationwide "teach-in" to raise awareness about environmental issues.  In those days, there were no major laws or regulations in place to protect the air, water, or wildlife in the United States. Driven by growing public concern ove ..read more

Mullet Toss, Bama Cruisin', and More… The Unofficial Start to Summer Orange Beach, Ala. – ( OBA ) – Fish, Chicken, arts and crafts, hot rods, dodgeball for all and a few good mullets. Get ready for one exciting week on the Gulf Coast Bama style. We’ve got annual traditions, local focused handmade items, good eats, good music and good times, let’s go.  Monday, April 22nd - Ever wanted to test your agility and stamina to see if you’ve still got it or simply watch as the littles in your life shine? The Factory in Gulf Shores is a one-stop shop for all things extraordinary. Rather guests a ..read more