One week from today, on May 7, 2024, athletes from Gulf Shores City Schools and Orange Beach City Schools will come together for the second annual Island Schools Special Olympics at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. This event celebrates unity, determination, and the joy of competition for athletes of all abilities.

As Alabama prepares to buy the bridge at the southern end of the Foley Beach Express, city officials are continuing plans to improve the route before it becomes a state highway. The Alabama Department of Transportation has announced plans to buy the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach. State officials said the toll over the bridge will be eliminated when the purchase is completed.

On Sunday afternoon, April 28th, the Gulf Shores Police responded to a robbery at the Arby's located at 1515 Gulf Shores Parkway. The incident occurred at 3:33 PM, when a man threatened an employee with what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol. He demanded money and car keys.

UPDATE: Lauren Davidson Has been found. ----------------------------- Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The Gulf Shores Police are actively searching for Lauren Davidson, a 58-year-old woman reported missing since yesterday morning, April 28th. Davidson was last seen around 5:12 AM near Bay John Condominiums at 4297 County Road 6.

Get ready for an invigorating week on the Alabama Gulf Coast, packed with exciting activities like thrill-seeking jet ski rentals, and beach carts. Hot air balloon festival excitement, boat shows, an Eco-Clean Marine clean-up with famous gumbo and beach volleyball championships. Come and experience the best of the Gulf Coast this week.

May is set to be an eventful time along the Gulf Shores, with major happenings like the NCAA Beach Volleyball tournament and the Hangout Music Festival drawing crowds from all over the country. In light of these events, significant adjustments to public parking and beach access points are scheduled to ensure both events run smoothly. Starting April 29, closures will begin with the Gulf Place parking lot, which will be inaccessible to vehicular traffic to accommodate event setups.

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the University of Alabama brought its "Tide on Tour" event to Orange Beach, delighting fans with the chance to meet and greet Crimson Tide coaches and student-athletes. The event, held at the Perdido Beach Resort, featured head football coach Kalen DeBoer, men's basketball coach Nate Oats, and several star players, including redshirt junior quarterback Jalen Milroe from Katy, Texas, graduate student defensive back Malachi Moore from Trussville, Alabama, and freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams from Saraland, Alabama, were among the athletes in attendance.

As saltwater fishing for 2024 heads into the peak seasons, a look back at 2023 reveals another record-breaking year for those who fish Alabama’s coastal waters and the Gulf of Mexico. The catch that went viral with news agencies around the world picking up the story was the giant blue marlin caught by “Best Trait,” a 55-foot Viking sportfishing vessel owned by Scott Crump of Jasper. The marlin officially weighed 1,145.6 pounds, which is not only an Alabama but also a Gulf of Mexico record. The Best Trait marlin, which was 145 inches long, easily eclipsed the Alabama state record of 851.9 pounds caught in 2020 by Ginger Myers. The Gulf record was set in 2002 in Mississippi by Barry Carr at 1,054 pounds.

On May 2nd, folks in the Orange Beach community and surrounding areas are invited to gather at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach to observe the National Day of Prayer. The annual event starts at noon and everyone is welcome. Local church leaders will guide prayers on the Center's shaded lawn.