And just like that, 2024 is about to be another year that was.

In our world of 24/7 information overload that seemingly incessantly presents the next biggest story in the history of the world for the next 15 minutes, it's hard to keep track of it all. If you find it difficult to distinguish between something that happened six months ago and four years ago, then you and I have something in common.

Amid it all, Gulf Coast Media's goal is to bring you down to earth. Away from the national politics stage and back to the grassroots level. We tell hyper-local stories you often won't see elsewhere, taking a neighborhood approach to what's going on in and around Baldwin County so you can feel connected to your communities, enjoy a better quality of life by being in the know and make more informed decisions for you and your family.

In this end-of-year holiday season of limbo, we're looking back at 2024 before we look ahead to the year to come. Here are recaps of some of the top storylines we reported on this year we subjectively think you should know.

STATE USES NEW EXECUTION METHOD

Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith through the novel method of nitrogen hypoxia in Attmore on Jan. 25, becoming the first such use of the execution method. Smith was convicted in the murder-for-hire killing of Elizabeth Sennett in 1988 in which he was hired by a pastor seeking to escape financial debts and an affair to kill his wife.

The state adopted the method in 2018 in response to challenges in obtaining execution drugs, allowing death-row prisoners the option to choose this alternative with a 30-day opt-in period.

Contrary to assurances of rapid unconsciousness, witnesses reported Smith's visible distress for several minutes after the gas began, leading to his death 32 minutes later.

BURRIS FARM MARKET CLOSES

After 38 years of feeding the community, Burris Farm Market shut its doors in February and held an auction for its contents, from shelves and coolers to signs and even parts of the roof, in October. Following the auction, the building was set for demolition.

The market sold produce and housed a bakery in Loxley. Wawa was poised to purchase half of the five-acre property.

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

Libraries got their share of headlines throughout Baldwin County in 2024.

In March, the Magnolia Springs Public Library faced closure in light of low usage, the need for restructuring, fiscal responsibility and uncertainty surrounding local and state-level library councils. Interim measures, such as using the Bookmobile and directing patrons to neighboring municipalities' libraries, were suggested, but residents voiced concern at public meetings over the loss of community programs and services, especially for elderly and young patrons.

With a unanimous vote to close the library in April, a potential reopening was proposed as an entity separate from the town.

Libraries across the county updated policies toward the end of 2024 to comply with new state guidelines that focus on age-appropriate material for minors as a condition to receive state funding. The revisions give parents more control over the materials accessible to their children. This follows local movements aiming to remove books containing topics on race, sex and sexual orientation from children's sections. The main change across libraries contacted is to meet the state guidelines, minors must now have parental or guardian approval to check out materials.

The end of the year saw two longtime library directors retire. Tamara Dean, who has over two decades of service to the Fairhope Public Library, will retire Dec. 31, and Wendy Congiardo retired from her position as managing librarian of the Thomas B. Norton Public Library in Gulf Shores after 20 years on Oct. 31. In Dean's place, the library's board of trustees named Rob Gourlay as the new director, effective Jan. 1. He has served as assistant director since 2015. In Gulf Shores, Deanne Fincher, previously the youth services librarian, is serving as interim managing librarian.

ORANGE BEACH TOLL BRIDGE COMES DOWN

After ownership of the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway was transferred from private ownership to the state, the tolls across the bridge in Orange Beach ended May 23, and the toll station was torn down in June. Since its removal, traffic data showed 8,000 more cars on average were using the Beach Express Bridge daily as of August. Over 257,000 more vehicles used the toll-free bridge in June compared to the month in 2023, a 44% increase that in turn, according to ALDOT, reduced congestion on Highway 59.

The move came after discussions and litigation that reached the state Supreme Court over the construction of a new toll-free bridge along Alabama 181, which is now fully underway.

MOBILE BRIDGE AND BAYWAY GET MASSIVE FEDERAL BOOST

Marking one of the largest federal grants ever received for a project in Alabama, the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project was awarded $550 million.

After the groundbreaking was put on pause in June so officials could review cost-saving options, with the upwards of $3.5 billion estimate double the Alabama Department of Transportation's annual budget, the federal assistance, awarded in July, is critical. The project addresses congestion where I-10 connects Mobile and Baldwin counties with a plan to create a new 2.5-mile-long, six-lane cable stay bridge over Mobile River standing at 215 tall, as well as 7.5 miles of new bridges with eight lanes running across Mobile Bay above the 100-year storm surge level.

BALDWIN PREP OPENS AT CAPACITY

Amid the now constant growth and need for new and updated facilities to keep up with Baldwin County's population boom, the start of the 2024-2025 school year saw the opening of with the state superintendent dubbed the "most creative, exciting thing" in Alabama. Baldwin Preparatory Academy opened Aug. 8 to 772 students in grades 10-12, offering programs such as automotive engine repair, diesel repair, construction, welding, aviation, HVAC/plumbing and electrical, mechatronics engineering, health sciences, cybersecurity, graphic design, teacher cadet academy, culinary arts and cosmetology and barbering.

Unique features of the $100 million career and technical school include wearing industry-recognized uniforms based on their program pathway, participating in weekly team meetings, using multiple collaboration and pod learning spaces, attending meetings and demonstrations with industry stakeholders on campus and taking core classes that apply subject material to industry and career contexts.

SCHOOL BUILDING HAPPENINGS

While an array of schools opened the year with or anticipating renovations and expansions, another group of students entered a brand-new building, while former students of yet another walked through their school halls for the last time.

Spanish Fort Elementary School welcomed students to a new building after two years of construction in August. Superintendent Eddie Tyler said at the time that over the past 10 years, Baldwin County Public Schools is "on the verge" of constructing 11 news schools, not including Baldwin Prep. Before work started on those projects, a new school facility had not been built since 2009.

At the same time, some students will be the last to walk in their halls. With demolition set for Silverhill Elementary School, which opened as Silverhill School in 1898 and has gone through iterations of buildings amid fire and additions, a walk-through was held in December for former students, teachers and community members. A $30 million project will see the construction of a new campus about 1.5 miles south of the town. Construction began in April 2023 with opening expected for the 2025-2026 school year.

Gulf Shores City Schools celebrated the start of construction on the new Gulf Shores High School in April. The new 287,000-square-foot facility is set to open in fall 2026 and feature hands-on learning opportunities, from state-of-the-art academy labs specializing in biomedical, marine biology, culinary arts and finance to dynamic spaces for music production, broadcasting and the arts.

10 ENVIRONMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS FUNDED BY GOMESA

Over $11 million was awarded to 10 projects across Baldwin County in the most recent round of GoMESA funding. The projects span the county, from environmental education in Orange Beach and wetlands acquisition in Loxley, from drainage improvements in Perdido Beach to the camp store in Meaher State Park.

GoMESA funnels money earned from offshores oil and gas production in the Gulf to the four Gulf Producing States (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) and their coastal communities. The program has been in place since 2006.

GULF SHORES PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

After the first bid came in over budget, Gulf Shores revealed a new design for its pedestrian bridge in September. The project is poised to connect Waterway Village around Tacky Jack's to the north around LuLu's over the Intracoastal Waterway.

When the city initially went out to bid late last year, the steel design included ramps. The new design, a prefabricated bridge, will not have ramps but is being designed for the ability to add them. To accommodate the bridge and address overall traffic flow, the city is implementing new turn lanes, traffic signals and sidewalks, as well as roadway resurfacing and rerouted access to Canal Drive in the area around Meyer Park and East 2nd Street and East 2nd Avenue.

All new bids came back within budget in December. Mayor Robert Craft said the city expects construction to being early next year.

MORAN WALLEN TO CURATE MUSIC FESTIVAL AT HANGOUT SITE

As a special celebration to mark 15 years of Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, country music superstar Morgan Wallen announced in October he is debuting a new Sand in My Boots festival at the site May 16-18, 2025.

This 15th anniversary rendition of Hangout with a new name is lighter on pop, rock and electronic music and heavier on country and rap artists. Led by crossover collaborations like Post Malone and Diplo, the full lineup, released Monday morning by AEG Presents, includes a deep pool of country stars like Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Riley Green, Chase Rice, ERNEST, Ian Munsick, Nate Smith, Ella Langley, Paul Cauthen, Kameron Marlowe, Josh Ross, Morgan Wade, Hailey Whitters, Lauren Watkins, John Morgan and Laci Kaye Booth. There will also be a multi-artist presence of hip-hop luminaries such as luminaries T-Pain, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, Three 6 Mafia, Moneybagg Yo, and BigXthaPlug, plus indie alternative bands including The War on Drugs, 3 Doors Down, Future Islands, Real Estate, Wild Nothing and more, all hand-picked by Wallen's personal playlist.

Following 24 hours of presale open to local residents, tickets sold out in public on-sale after only two hours.

GULF SHORES AIRPORT GETS 1ST COMMERCIAL AIRLINE WITH 6 ROUTES

After a $5 million Federal Aviation Administration grant toward its passenger terminal project was awarded in June, and $3 million in matching city funding, the City of Gulf Shores announced Allegiant Airlines as the first commercial routes to and from Gulf Shores International Airport in November.

Starting in May 2025, some tickets are as low as $49, and the airport will service to six cities around the South and Midwest, including Knoxville, Kansas City, Houston, Cincinnati, St. Louis/Belleville and Northwest Arkansas.

Jesse Fosnaugh, who was announced as airport director in mid-October after the November 2023 retirement of Scott Fuller after 10 years and a search for his successor, said each of these cities will be served twice weekly with nonstop flights to and from Gulf Shores. Routes are scheduled to last until September 2025, then, after Allegiant "evaluating" the current routes, more routes could be added for the summer and winter seasons.

FOLEY LAUNCHES ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

The Foley Arts and Entertainment District opened in November, allowing patrons of participating restaurants to take alcohol's beverages outside downtown. The opening coincided with the reveal of the new Cat Alley walkway and public seating area.

Did we miss something? Email kayla@gulfcoastmedia.com.