Foley Barin Field WWII exhibit opens

MICAH GREEN / GULF COAST MEDIA Glen Moore, a Foley local and Navy veteran who served at Barin Field from 1953 to 1955, looks at the new exhibit at the Foley Railroad Museum.
A museum exhibit commemorating Foley's role in World War II and Naval aviation history is now open. The exhibit tells the story of the city during the war and later and the role of Barin Field, …
Happening Now - Local News

Fairhope Public Library names Gourlay new director

The Fairhope Public Library Board of Trustees has announced Rob Gourlay as the library’s new director, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Gourlay, who has served as the assistant director since 2015, …
The Gulf has served as NCAA champions’ first stop after claiming a national title, including USC on May 7, 2023, and will continue to be the backdrop of the beach volleyball national championships 2027-2031 following a Monday announcement.

NCAA beach volleyball national championships staying in Gulf Shores through 2031 following 3-year extension

From 2012 through 2031, all but two national collegiate beach volleyball champions will have been crowned on the white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores in Baldwin County, Alabama. Only two months after the NCAA initially named …
Handmade ornaments created, thanks to a teacher.

Way Back When on the Gulf Coast with Harriet Outlaw: Classroom Christmases

One day before Christmas Way Back When I was in first grade, I couldn't wait to get to school. We were going to make clay pots to give our parents for Christmas. My teacher had dug the clay from …

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Obituaries
Bettie Sandlin loved the Lord and her family. Precious daughter of God and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She passed away peacefully on Dec. 3, 2024. Bettie was also a good …
Carl Robert Fortner, Jr., known locally as Robert, 85, a resident of Foley, Alabama, passed away Sun., Dec. 1, 2024. Robert was a proud U.S. Army National Guard Veteran who served honorably as …
Marilyn Lee Bjornas, 87, passed away Tues., Dec. 3, 2024, in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Born in Dewitt, Iowa and a resident of Newnan, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Virtus Merrill Benson and …

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Sports
Sports
Mrs. Nelson’s Pre-K class at Daphne East Elementary received a special visit from an alumnus, five-year NFL veteran Ryan Anderson on Friday, Dec. 6.
Former Daphne Trojan, Alabama Crimson Tide football player Ryan Anderson visits Daphne East Elementary School
The newest member of the 500-win club coaches for the Orange Beach Makos as Chris Laatsch was recognized for the achievement before Dec. 5’s non-area contest against Foley at home. Pictured from the left are school board president Randy McKinney, Superintendent Randy Wilkes, Leigh and Chris Laatsch, high school principal Chris Shaw and school board member Lisa Nix.
Orange Beach boys’ basketball coach Laatsch recognized for 500th career high school victory
Daphne – Brayden Davis (Shelton State golf), Blake Cornell (West Florida golf), Talib Graham (Ole Miss football), Vic Moten (Alabama softball), Kalyse Hill (Mount Olive wrestling), Farley Harris (Southern Union softball)
Local athletes seal college commitments at Daphne, Gulf Shores, Bayside Academy, Baldwin County, Foley, Spanish Fort, Fairhope, St. Michael
The Orange Beach City School system was recently awarded a second Alabama K-12 Capital Grant from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Alabama which will go toward safety and security at the newly upgraded Sportsplex around the corner from the Middle/High School.
Orange Beach City Schools awarded second Alabama K-12 Capital Grant from Lt. Gov. of Alabama for Sportsplex upgrades
Fairhope’s Brechman makes 4th-straight podium trip to highlight Baldwin County’s efforts at the AHSAA Swimming and Diving State Championships

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Baldwin County, Eastern Shore, Alabama Gulf Coast News
The Islander - Gulf Coast News

Gulf Shores traffic update: New routes for school traffic announced amid Highway 59 expansion

Drivers in Gulf Shores will face a new traffic pattern beginning Monday, Dec. 16, as construction crews progress on the Highway 59 Expansion Project. The latest phase of work involves the …
“I hope to make this a yearly event maybe in the spring and expand it to more than just our section of Wedgewood,” Wedgewood resident, Emily Kelly said.

Gulf Shores families join forces for community yard sale

GULF SHORES — On a frigid morning down Wedgewood Drive, toys, clothes and other goodies were set up in front of a group of houses for a simultaneous, multi-family yard sale on Dec. 7 and 8. …
Peak traffic days included spring break, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Another time that had a high volume of traffic was April 4-5, which Wolfschlag said there were “lots of events in town” and “nice weather for those days.” For comparing these busier days to general conditions, a baseline volume was gathered from the date range of Aug. 12 to Sept. 12.

30,000 cars on main city roadways daily shown in Gulf Shores' 2024 traffic report

GULF SHORES — In a city with a 2023 U.S. Census population estimate of 16,850, residents and visitors combined to put 30,000 vehicles on Highway 59 and Beach Boulevard a day in 2024. As …

Thank you, Pastor Franks and the Island Church family

Christian Service Center's Children's Christmas Cheer is grateful to Pastor Franks and the Island Church family for their kindness and trust in allowing us to use their warehouse for our program's …
Wendy Congiardo's coworkers held a retirement part for her to celebrate the 20 years she worked at the Thomas B. Norton Public Library.

Gulf Shores' managing librarian, Wendy Congiardo, retires after 25 years in AL

GULF SHORES — After working as a librarian for 25 years, Wendy Congiardo retired from her position as managing librarian of the Thomas B. Norton Public Library, with her official last having …

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National and State Data Trends
Is a bottle of Macallan 1926 a better investment than a bar of gold? The RealReal used Knight Frank data to explore wearable luxury investment trends.
Being a quarterback is the toughest position in football. ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best NFL rookie QBs since 1960 using data from StatHead.
The Onlooker - Central/North Baldwin

New wedding, event venue set to open spring 2025

Tropic Falls at OWA nominated for Newsweek's Best Indoor Waterpark award

The school bell will be moved to the new school once it is completed.

Silverhill Elementary hosts "Walk to Remember"

Holk-Jones donates to Swift-Coles pavilion project

Pilot dies in Foley plane crash

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The Courier - Eastern Shore News
Christmas at Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee. December 3, 2024. Photo by Matt Willoughby

Fairhope local to perform in 'Christmas at Belmont: Live from Nashville' streaming on Amazon Music and Prime Video

Beth Stowe Fugard recalls her mother's role in launching Fairhope's Christmas tree lighting

Daphne fourth grader shines in art, music, dance

Fairhope's library director to retire after decades of service

MICAH GREEN / GULF COAST MEDIA

Prodisee Pantry serves Thanksgiving turkey boxes to nearly 1,500 families across Baldwin County

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Local News

Southeast ADA Center: Bridging accessibility and inclusion across the Southeast

Since its establishment in 1991, the Southeast ADA Center has been a cornerstone in advancing accessibility, inclusion, and awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Based in …

Nominations open for Eagle Awards to honor special contributors to Alabama State Parks

Nominations are now open for the ninth annual Eagle Awards, a prestigious honor presented by the Alabama State Parks Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The …

ASPCA awards $25,000 to Baldwin County for disaster shelter

Baldwin County will soon be more prepared to care for animals in a natural disaster thanks to a $25,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). With the …

Municipal meetings throughout Baldwin County for the week of Dec. 16

Curious about when your city council or local board is meeting next? Whether you attend in person or follow along online, staying connected with your community starts here. This guide provides …

Religion column by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey: The lion, the bear and the giant

Lions, bears and giants sounds like a list of professional football teams, but it has a special significance in 1 Samuel 17:36-37, "'Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised …

Commentary: Traveling with a disability

The holiday travel season is here. Whether you are off to see Grandma or traveling to some Caribbean beach, if you have a disability, there are laws that can protect your rights. Legal updates …

Mobile Ballet brings 'The Nutcracker' to Saenger and Holiday Brunch to Dauphin's

Mobile Ballet is set to bring holiday wonder to downtown Mobile for all ages, presenting the beloved tradition of "The Nutcracker" at the historic Saenger Theatre for the first time. The show …

Kiddie Compass: 8 family-friendly things to do in Baldwin County Dec. 12-16

Looking for fun and engaging activities to create unforgettable memories with your family? Gulf Coast Media's Kiddie Compass is your go-to guide for family-friendly events happening across …

18 things to do in and around the Gulf Coast this weekend, Dec. 12-15

Looking for festive ways to make the most of your weekend? Baldwin County is brimming with events perfect for all ages, from live performances and unique holiday celebrations to community …

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National and State Data Trends
Vivian Health shares 11 tips to add mental health and wellness practices into the daily routines of healthcare professionals.
Best Baby Names analyzed data from the Social Security Administration to see how celebrities can impact what parents name their children.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard will finish his senior football season back in his Lower Alabama stomping grounds at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile on Feb. 1. The former Fairhope Pirate accepted his invitation to play in the nation’s longest continual-running all-star game on Thursday, Nov. 28, with a special Thanksgiving message shared by Executive Director Jim Nagy.

Fairhope alum Leonard helps Notre Dame clinch spot in first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff

In the first year that a 12-team playoff will determine a college football national champion, Baldwin County will be represented on one of the main stages. Riley Leonard, an all-state standout …

Orange Beach selected as host of next three NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship tournaments for 2025, 2026, 2027

More national champions will be crowned at the beach as the Orange Beach Sportsplex and Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events were selected as the hosts for the National Association of …
St. Michael junior Tucker Tomlinson bursts for extra yards after the catch on Friday, Aug. 30, at the on-campus stadium in Fairhope during the home-opening game against John Carroll. The Cardinal receiver caught three touchdown passes in Friday night’s Class 4A state semifinal on the road against the Jackson Aggies.

No. 1 Jackson advances to Class 4A state finals with 49-28 win over No. 5 St. Michael at home

And still, the only team to beat the No. 5 St. Michael Cardinals in 2024 remains the No. 1 Jackson Aggies who earned a 49-28 victory at home in Friday’s Class 4A state semifinals.
Cardinal junior Cooper Helper pulls down a Handley ballcarrier during the first-round playoff game at St. Michael against the Tigers on Nov. 7 in Fairhope. The Cardinal defense provided a second-half shutout in Friday’s quarterfinal road game against Fairfield to punch the program’s first ticket to the Class 4A state semifinal against No. 1 Jackson next week.

St. Michael advances to first-ever state semifinal with 42-25 road win over Fairfield

Junior running back Noah Moss ran for at least 200 yards and four touchdowns for the third time in as many playoff games to help St. Michael extend its historic postseason with a 42-25 win over …
St. Michael senior Cooper Kurth hits the open field en route to a 33-yard touchdown catch from sophomore Gunner Rivers that gave the Cardinals’ a 20-19 lead with only 5:34 left in regulation against the John Carroll Cavaliers in the first regular-season game at the new on-campus stadium on Aug. 30. Kurth remembered dreaming about scoring a game-winning touchdown just like this one when he and his family traveled across Mobily Bay for treatments in his battle with Leukemia from kindergarten until third grade.

St. Michael senior, cancer survivor Cooper Kurth relishing Cardinals’ historic playoff football run

FAIRHOPE — Cooper Kurth remembers envisioning himself catching a game-winning touchdown when he and his family traveled across Mobile Bay for treatments in his battle against Leukemia from …
The 17th-annual Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon took over Gulf Place Public Beach in September. This year, 55% (455 athletes) of the competitors were first-time participants and 20% (166 athletes) were first-time triathlon racers.

Foley Sports Tourism, Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events named winners of Sports Destination Management awards

When Sports Destination Management announced its Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism, a pair of Baldwin County institutions were recognized. Foley Sports Tourism and Gulf Shores | …

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