Orange Beach Public Library Celebrates 15th Anniversary

It’s been 15 years since the Orange Beach Public Library opened in a room of the Orange Beach City Hall. First headed by Marsha Owens, the library has moved twice, the last time in 2001 into the present building on Canal Road in Orange Beach. The library began issuing cards in October 1992 with the first books being circulated in December 1992.

Now, 15 years later, the library has grown to include 41,611 items in the collection and 12,091 patrons. “As set forth by the original Library Board and Ms. Owens the library continues to provide our community free and open access to the information, material and service they need for life-long leaning , civic engagement and the exchange of ideas”, said Bonnie Lee, Director,

To celebrate the 15th anniversary, the Friends of the Orange Beach Public Library will host an open house which will be held at the library 1:00 p.m-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.

The open house will feature light refreshments, a mini book sale, a Bricks for Books sale, and a book signing with Ryan Anderson, a former Orange Beach resident who recently published her first book, “The Czech Files”. Come join in the celebration!

For more information visit www.OrangeBeachLibrary.com or call Bonnie Lee, 251-981-2923.

Click here to see an aerial view and map for the Orange Beach Library.

Code-built houses can resist storm damage

By Kym Klass
kklass@gannett.com

The next time a hurricane strikes Alabama, the homes in the city of Gulf Shores should be spared considerable damage.

A recent Louisiana State University study shows that incorporating just three wind-resistant features into residential buildings in Alabama could reduce hurricane damage and economic losses by as much as 87 percent -- assuming buildings were built to the 2003 International Residential Code building standards.

In the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, they are.

Click here to read the complete article on the Montgomery Advertiser website.

Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival 2007

October 25, 2007 - More than 300 acclaimed songwriters – who have crafted some of the biggest hits in modern music – converge on the Gulf Coast from Nov. 8-18 for the 23rd annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival.

Grammy Award-winning artists, No. 1 hit-writers and up-and-coming young performers play their songs at intimate Gulf Coast settings. Songwriters play venues in Bon Secour, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Josephine, Ala., and in Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Innerarity Point and Perdido Key on the Florida side.

Southeast Tourism Society named the songwriters’ festival to its Top 20 Events.

Each local venue will have a lineup of songwriters, who in many cases will play at different shows. The songwriters often collaborate, turning some sets into intimate jam sessions.

The festival has a line-up of special shows, special concerts, songwriting seminars and a celebrity golf tournament.

• Songwriters Kickoff, Nov. 7 – Local songwriters bust out the music at Hub Stacey’s.
  
  
• Songwriters Guild Foundation seminar, Nov. 10 – The Island House Hotel in Orange Beach, Ala 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Songwriters Guild Foundation, with the Songwriters Guild of America, presents, “The Write Key,” an intense one-day personalized experience for songwriters. It is followed by an SGA Hit Songwriter Showcase starting at 7 p.m.
  
  
• Celebrity Golf tournament – Swing with the songwriters at Perdido Bay Country Club for the Frank Brown Celebrity Golf Tournament on Friday, Nov. 16. Register at the festival Web site, www.fbisf.com. Contacts, Perdido Bay Golf Club, 850-492-1223 or 866-319-2471 Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival 850-492-SONG
  
  
• RadioLive at the Pensacola Museum of Commerce – The WUWF Radio broadcast features a live concert broadcast from the museum in downtown Pensacola.
  
  
• More special events will be announced along with the lineup of artists.

Artist and venue updates are being posted on the Songwriters Festival Web site: www.fbisf.com

Local teen on TV's 'Endurance: Fiji'

By MIKE BRANTLEY TV & Media Editor

Ask Orange Beach teen Jonathan Young why he enjoyed watching past seasons of the Discovery Kids Channel reality show "Endurance," and he'll answer promptly.

"I like seeing the kids go through struggles," came his reply. "I like to see kids going through physical and mental challenges."

Recently, he experienced those struggles and challenges firsthand -- as a contestant when the program shot the episodes of its sixth season.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Effects of Tornados & Heavy Rains in South Alabama

Irvington picks up after tornado

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
By KATHERINE SAYRE and RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporters

Large chunks of the roof of Robert Morrison's boat shed, just south of his brick house on Irvington's Memory Lane, lay in piles on the grass Tuesday.

"What's left of it -- the rest of it went that way," Morrison said, pointing to the northern end of the street, where a twister blew through Monday.

As residents of southern Baldwin County dealt with the effects of flooding from heavy rainfall, the residents of Memory Lane and Walker Road in Mobile County continued to clean up from the tornado that tore through their enclave, damaging between 15 and 20 homes and properties in the area, emergency officials said.

In southernmost Baldwin County, municipal employees continued to address flooding that plagued certain areas.

Kit Alexander, Orange Beach's director for engineering and environmental services, said low-lying spots such as Bear Point and the neighborhood around Cotton Bayou fared the worst, particularly in older subdivisions that were built upon filled wetlands.

In response, city workers were using pumps to move water from deluged streets and yards to nearby canals and studying the flooding to figure out where to install new drainage systems next year, she said.

In Gulf Shores, city employees continued around-the-clock to pump water from the East 21st Avenue neighborhood -- where some homes were filled ankle-deep with water on Friday -- and clear out clogged drainage ditches and culverts, Public Works Director Mark Acreman said.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Red tide affects Alabama oysters

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
By BEN RAINES, Staff Reporter

Oyster beds in Bon Secour Bay were closed Tuesday after tests by the Alabama Department of Public Health revealed the presence of the organism that causes red tide.

The organism builds up in oysters as they filter water, making them unsafe to eat, sometimes for weeks after the red tide is gone.

Fish kills reported along the Gulf beaches between the Florida line and Fort Morgan over the last few days were also attributed to the red tide bloom, according to state officials.

Click here to read the rest of the article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Author Timothy Weeks “Casts Out” a Fascinating Presentation

October 23, 2007- Orange Beach, AL - Freelance journalist and author, Timothy Weeks taught Orange Beach Elementary students more than net casting techniques on his recent visit to the school.

Sponsored by the Orange Beach Public Library and funded by the Friends of the Orange Beach Public Library, Weeks gave a presentation of his books, “Wise Mullet of Cook Bayou” and “Ol’ Middler Saves the Day” to the kindergarten through 6th grades. The students then participated in a question and answer session followed by a book signing. In addition, the 4th through 6th grades took part in a writing lab that focused on how ideas evolve from stick figures and the real pictures into his book, the writing process and his career as a journalist.

Mr. Weeks was joined by the illustrator of his books, his mother Jeanne. As an added bonus Mr. Weeks gave a special family presentation at the Orange Beach Public Library.

“Timothy Weeks masterfully commanded the students’ attention. His presentation stirred the student’s imagination and stimulated their creativity. He challenged students to continue to build their creative writing skills by writing stories that extend the fate of the characters. A portion of those projects will be showcased at the library in the coming weeks.” said Patsy Rose, Children’s Librarian at the Orange Beach Public Library.

For more information on the Orange Beach Public Library visit the library website at www.OrangeBeachLibrary.com or call 251-981-2923.
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Above Photo: Author Timothy Weeks shows children visiting the family presentation at the Orange Beach Public Library some net casting techniques.

Left to right:John Paul Sellers, Jeanne Weeks, Hannah Sellers, Adaline Sellers, Isabella Lyons, Adam Andrew, Austin Andrews, Kenneth Woodrow and Timothy Weeks.
(Click on photo for larger view.)

Mobile County Tornado Caught on Tape

October 23, 2007

Storm chasers catch tornado on tape in Mobile County.

Click here to view video on the WKRG-TV5 website.

WKRG-TV5's Report on Orange Beach Fish-Kill

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Published: October 22 2007 - 5:42 pm
Last Updated: October 22 2007 - 7:27 pm

It's a nightmare for the Orange Beach Chamber of Commerce! A trail of dead fish lines the beach from the Flora-Bama Lounge to Gulf State Park.

"It's pretty nasty," says Jody Embry. "It stinks, they're all over the place."

"Red Tide" is to blame for the fish kill. "Red Tide" is a toxic algae that forms in the Gulf of Mexico. Bacteria levels in the water kill the fish and push them up on the beach. "Red Tide" also causes respiratory problems in humans.

Click here to read the rest of the story and view the video from WKRG-TV5.

Red Tide Fish-Kill Reaches Orange Beach

October 21, 2007 - The fish-kill from the Red Tide has reached Orange Beach. The photo to the right was taken today at 12:02pm at the Cotton Bayou Beach Access. This photo is representative of the entire stretch of beach along the Cotton Bayou Access. We do not yet know how far the kill reaches east or west of Cotton Bayou Beach.

A 15 to 20 mph east-south-east wind is blowing along the coast. A north or northwest wind is needed to push the Red Tide Harmful Algal Blooms back out to the open Gulf.

Click on image for a larger view.

Orange Beach Red Tide Update- Sun, Oct. 21, 2007

October 21, 2007 - Orange Beach, AL - The last official Red Tide advisory for Orange Beach was published on Thursday, October 18th, from samples taken on Tuesday, October 16th. This advisory was published by the City of Orange Beach.

As of this report today, no new official updates for the Red Tide in Orange Beach are available. Any new updates about the Red Tide will be published on this page and on the home page of The Orange Beach Community Website as soon as they are received.

Below is a list of links to assist residents of and visitors to Orange Beach with information about the Red Tide.

Click here to see a Google Search for Orange Beach Red Tides.

Click here to view more information about Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) & Red Tides from the NOAA website.

Click here to view an interactive NOAA Map where reports of HAB have been found.
(Please note, the current map only shows HAB found on Perdido Key, and in other locations in Florida. It is not clear why this map does not show the evidence of HAB found in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.)

Click on the following links for information about Red Tides from the associated source: Wikipedia, WHOI, WHOI Photos, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Florida Fish and Wildlife Current & Historical Maps.

Pick-A-Pet Fest to be held in Fairhope

Maddie’s Pet Rescue Project of Baldwin County
Presents the 1st Annual
“Pick-A-Pet Fest”
Saturday, October 27th from 10:00am-3:00pm
Halloween Pet Costume Contest 11:00am
Faulkner State Community College
440 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope, AL

The Wright/ Steed Team of Coldwell Banker United Realtors will be sponsoring the event, which will feature dogs & cats from Maddie’s Pet Rescue Center, The Baldwin Animal Rescue Center, The Haven and the Baldwin County, Fairhope, Bay Minette & Daphne area shelters. All adoptions include the cost of spay or neuter, initial vaccinations, heartworm or feline combo testing and a microchip.

The Baldwin County Animal Control Center will be providing a rabies clinic available to the public for a cost of $10 per shot. The Haven of Fairhope will be offering a microchip clinic available to the public for a cost of $20 per chip. All pet owners must have proof of rabies vaccination in order to receive a microchip.

Maddie’s Pet Rescue Project of Baldwin County is in coalition with Baldwin Animal Rescue Center, The Haven, Baldwin County Animal Control Center, Daphne Animal Shelter, City of Fairhope Animal Shelter and the City of Bay Minette Animal Shelter. The coalition is focused on increasing pet adoptions, while decreasing the amount of healthy & treatable dogs & cats that are euthanized in shelters every day. Within 10 years, the coalition’s goal is to have no healthy euthanasia within all Baldwin County area shelters.

Participants in the 1st Annual “Pick-A-Pet Fest” pet adoption event include photographer Stefanie Raimo, pet psychic Sarah Christopher, The Borders of Infinity Flyball Team, Samson’s Pet Sitting, Pet Smart Pet Training, Humpty Jumpty Inflatable Jumpers, Microchip & Rabies clinic and The Shampoo Lab Mobile Grooming van.

Join us for a fun family filled day of activities, entertainment and prizes. For more information, please contact Brooke Steed at (251) 964-8888.

Hatten & Macik Win FLW Redfish Championship in Orange Beach

Orange Beach, AL- October 20, 2007 – Bennie Hatten, of Deer Park, Texas, and Randy Macik, of Bay City, Texas, caught six redfish weighing 35 pounds, 1 ounce to win the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship presented by BP in Orange Beach, Ala. The top prize of $100,000 included a $25,000 Ranger bonus and a $25,000 Yamaha bonus.

“We squeaked into this thing by a whisker,” said Hatten, who qualified for the championship in the next-to-last place in the Western Division. “We were just glad to be here. And then to come in here and win it is just unbelievable.”

Hatten said the team caught six fish Thursday and eight fish on the second day of competition by fishing off of the Mississippi Sound. The team made the 75-mile one-way run to their spot on the second day of competition in hopes of repeating their first day’s performance of two redfish that weighed 12 pounds, 6 ounces.

On the final day of competition, the team returned to the Mississippi Sound, where they caught their limit in 45 minutes Thursday and an hour and a half Friday.

“We got to the pond we had been fishing in, and the wind was blowing on the shoreline we had been fishing,” Hatten said. “We hadn’t been able to catch anything on the shoreline if the wind was blowing on it. We didn’t catch a fish for the first two hours. We got the jitters bad.”

Hatten and Macik were fishing a white Rapala Skitter Walk, and they jerked the bait away from the first two fish that struck. The team took a minute to compose themselves, resumed fishing, and eventually boated six redfish during the day. They caught every fish during the tournament except for one on the Skitter Walk. Their last fish of the tournament came on a silver Heddon Spook.

Rounding out the top five teams are Brett Phillips and Mike Patterson, both of Rockport, Texas (six redfish, 33 pounds, 13 ounces, $15,120); Kris Walter, of Hudson, Fla., and Danny Winters, of Tampa, Fla. (six redfish, 33 pounds, 1 ounce, $5,760); Steve White, of Petal, Miss., and Barnie White, of Brewton, Ala. (six redfish, 30 pounds, 8 ounces, $9,360); Gary McKenzie, of Bartow, Fla., and Sam Bertha Jr., of Bunnell, Fla. (four redfish, 22 pounds, 1 ounce, $7,200).

Teams caught eight redfish Saturday weighing 39 pounds, 3 ounces.

The $300,000 Wal-Mart Redfish Series Championship presented by BP — the final event in the most lucrative redfish tournament trail in the world — is a three-day event. A field of 85 teams competed Thursday and Friday, and the top five teams, based on heaviest combined weight, advanced to Saturday’s final round. The winning team was determined Saturday based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

The FLW Redfish Series consists of two divisions — Eastern and Western. Each division is comprised of four qualifying events with a $200,000 purse for each event. The top 100 teams — 50 from each division after four qualifying events — qualified for the three-day, no-entry-fee $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship presented by BP.

Coverage of the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship presented by BP will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing Dec. 23. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast internationally to approximately 350 million households in Europe, Africa and Asia, making it the most widely distributed weekly fishing program in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 servicemembers stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

Hatten-Macik take pole position at Orange Beach

By Rob Newell - 19.Oct.2007

Orange Beach, AL – After a tortuous day one, the weather gods took pity on the 100 redfish teams competing in the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship on day two: the rain finally quit, the winds laid and the dark clouds began to clear away.

In essence, the window opened for long runs and the Texas team of Bennie Hatten and Randy Macik took advantage of it by running their Ranger bay boat full throttle across Mobile Bay and into Mississippi Sound to a secluded backwater pond that is apparently teeming with redfish.

Click here to read the rest of the FLW Redfish Tournament article from FLW Outdoors.

Local Gulf Shores Businessman Makes National News

October 19, 2007
The Orange Beach Community Website

John McCombs, a Gulf Shores, AL businessman, was in a telephone interview on Fox & Friends this morning talking about his anti-Citgo billboard on Highway 59. The newsworthy billboard (right) shows a picture of Hugh Chavez holding a Citgo logo, and reads: "Don't by gas from this Ass". Citgo is a petroleum company owned by the government of Venezuela and Hugo Chavez.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack followed McCombs in the interview and said that he has not received any calls complaining about the billboard.

Click on the above image for a larger view.

Click here to see video of WKRG TV5's coverage on this story.

Click here to see the follow-up story on WKRG TV5.

Click here to read the AP story on FoxNews.com website.

Click here to see all of the online media who have picked up on this story from Google.

Red tide warning issued for Baldwin's Gulf beaches

Friday, October 19, 2007

By BILL FINCH

Environment Editor

Persistent south winds have apparently blown a red tide onto Baldwin County's Gulf beaches, prompting a warning by the Alabama Department of Public Health on Thursday.

Concentrations of the sometimes toxic organism were high enough to cause minor respiratory problems, if fragments of the tide became airborne and came in contact with beachgoers.

Orange Beach Coastal Resource Director Phillip West said Thursday that simply being on the beach caused respiratory irritation and stung the eyes.

"It's present, and it's definitely irritating," West said. "About all we can hope for is a shift in the wind."

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Orange Beach Community Website Editor's Note: The front passing through our area today should shift the winds to the north. This shift should blow the Harmful Algal Blooms (aka Red Tide) back out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Red Tide Alert for Orange Beach & Gulf Shores

Water samples collected on Oct. 16 on Alabama beaches indicate the presence of red tide cells, the Alabama Department of Public Health announces. As of Thursday, beaches east of Dauphin Island are affected, but the winds from the south may continue to push the red tide up onto the beaches to include Dauphin Island.

Red tide results from a massive build-up of certain species of microscopic sea organisms known as dinoflagellates. These organisms produce a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish so they are paralyzed and cannot breathe. At high concentrations, the organisms may produce a discoloration of the water. Red tides are often referred to as “blooms.” The species (Karenia brevis) may produce toxins that also cause skin irritation and respiratory problems in humans.

Health Department officials advise:

• Avoid the area if you are susceptible to respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema.
• Leave the water if you experience skin irritations while swimming or boating and rinse immediately with fresh water.
• If you experience nose, throat or eye irritation when exposed to the gulf mist, avoid the mist.

The Alabama Department of Public Health will continue to monitor gulf and bay waters for the presence of red tide cells. At this time the oyster reefs are unaffected.

Unfortunately, the presence of red tide cannot be predicted to be at a certain location at a certain time. The effects depend on many variables such as temperature, salinity, direction of the wind, and how concentrated the organisms are at a given location.

Senate Passes Bill that could bring Disaster Funds to Orange Beach

Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions vote for the measure

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Staff Report

WASHINGTON -- A bill that would send $30 million to the University of South Alabama for an engineering and science center has won approval in the full Senate but still needs the agreement of lawmakers in the House.

The bill, which sets spending levels for the U.S. Justice Department, Commerce Department and other agencies for the fiscal year that began this month, passed the Senate 75-19 on Tuesday evening.

Included in the bill is $100,000 for the city of Orange Beach and a fishing mortality education program.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press Register.

Laptop Users Group Schedule for October-December 2007

The Orange Beach Library Laptop Users Group (LUG) will continue meeting throughout October, November and December on Monday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the Orange Beach Public Library meeting room. Participants should bring their own wireless capable laptop.

At this time there is no registration necessary and classes are first come, first served. These classes are free and open to the public. For more information please contact the library at 251-981-2923, visit the library website at www.orangebeachlibrary.org or email arand@cityoforangebeach.com

Distinctive Kitchens and Pensacola Junior College Form Partnership

Distinctive Kitchens(DK), serving Northwest Florida and South Alabama for 65 years, is pleased to announced a new culinary partnership with Pensacola Junior College, the first junior college chartered by the State of Florida.


Together, they have served the community for over 120 years. As the southeast's largest Culinary Arts Centers with "State of the Art" kitchens for cooking classes and private events, both the downtown Pensacola and Orange Beach locations provide a festive atmosphere of "edutainment".

The DK chefs blend fun with culinary skills to leave our students fully satisfied! With both demonstration and hands-on classes, you will receive a set of recipe cards, a sampling of tasty foods and a variety of wines that compliment the class menu.

Click here to visit the Distinctive Kitchens website.

Click here to view Distinctive Kitchens' Calendar of Events for its Pensacola, Florida store.

Click here to view Distinctive Kitchens' Calendar of Events for its Orange Beach store.

Click here to view the Pensacola Junior College website.

Red Tide Update- Samples found on Perdido Key

October 17, 2007

Orange Beach, AL- While no evidence of Harmful Algal Blooms (aka Red Tide) has been found in Orange Beach, samples of the toxic substance have been reported as close as Perdido Key (as reported by NOAA).

The rain we have experienced over the last two nights will hopefully slow the spread of this Red Tide event, and prevent it from reaching Orange Beach.

Click here to view more information about Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) & Red Tides.

Click here to view an interactive map where reports of HAB have been found.

Click here to see the latest news stories about the Gulf of Mexico Red Tide.

Pittman swamps Cooper for state Senate

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

By DAVID FERRARA

Staff Reporter

Baldwin County voters overwhelmingly selected Eastern Shore businessman Lee "Trip" Pittman on Tuesday as their next state senator.

Pittman, a Republican from Montrose, collected more than 86 percent of the vote against his Democratic opponent, Fairhope attorney A.J. "Jay" Cooper Jr., following a five-month race for the Alabama Senate District 32 seat, according to final but unofficial election results Tuesday night.

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to view election results.

Red Tide Health Advisory for Escambia County

by the Escambia County Health Department,
advisory published October 15, 2007

Red Tide Present along Pensacola Beach

PENSACOLA – Escambia County Health Department is issuing a health advisory for red tide, which may give residents and visitors mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms. Red tide does not affect everyone who comes into contact with it and usually symptoms end when a person leaves the area or goes indoors. Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas -- once a person leaves the red tide area, the symptoms usually go away. If symptoms, do not subside, please contact your physician for assistance.

People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease are cautioned to avoid red tide areas. If water samples indicate that the Red Tide organism is present in areas other than Pensacola Beach, the health department will issue additional advisories.

There are no long-term health effects from being exposed to Red Tide.

About Red Tide
Red Tide is a microorganism containing a concentrated toxin that is found in the Gulf of Mexico and occasionally washes onshore. Though not all people are susceptible to the effects of red tide, it can be absorbed by humans directly, as well as be absorbed in shellfish; therefore, it is important that you recognize the symptoms.

General Health Information

• Not all people are susceptible to the effects of red tide.

• Susceptible people who come into contact with salt water spray may experience varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms.

• Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas – once a person leaves the red tide area, the symptoms usually go away.

• Effects from contact with salt spray – such as eye, nose and throat irritation – are temporary, with no long-term health effects. (See precautions below on eating seafood.)

• A rash can sometimes occur after contact with affected water, and usually goes away within 24 hours.

Swimming, Boating

• After swimming in an affected area, it is a good idea to rinse off with clean fresh water.

• Swallowed water is unlikely to cause health effects.

Residents of Beach Areas

• Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner (making sure that the A/C filter is maintained according to manufacturer's specifications).

• If outdoors, residents may choose to wear paper filter masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

• For people with long-term exposure, such as beach workers or fishermen, a more properly fitted mask is recommended.

Locally-caught Fish and Shellfish
Precautions should be taken when preparing and cooking fish caught in local waters, and individuals should not eat locally-harvested molluscan shellfish such as oysters, clams, and coquinas when red tide may be present. Red tide may also cause fish kills.

Red tide can also affect humans if they consume contaminated molluscan shellfish. During a red tide, bivalve shellfish, including clams and oysters, concentrate the toxin. This concentrated toxin can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) in humans who eat bivalve shellfish. Both mild gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms occur in NSP, which can include tingling and numbness of lips, tongue, and throat, muscular aches, dizziness, reversal of the sensations of hot and cold, diarrhea, and vomiting. Onset of this illness occurs within a few minutes to a few hours; duration is fairly short, from a few hours to several days. Recovery is complete with few after effects; no fatalities have been reported.

Cooking does not eliminate the toxin. Only clams and oysters collected in shellfish harvesting areas monitored and open for harvesting, as determined by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), should be eaten. Scallops may be consumed as long as only the muscle is eaten. Any healthy finfish harvested from red tide affected waters should be carefully filleted and cooked fresh, avoiding consumption of roe and internal organs. The meat of fresh, healthy fish should be safe to eat.

Disposal of Dead Fish
Many questions are asked about what to do with the fish that have died during red tide conditions. Contact with fish killed in a red tide event does not produce any red tide associated symptoms. However, these fish can present a nuisance, in that they have an unpleasant odor, and attract flies and vermin. These fish may be disposed of according to local solid waste practices. It is recommended that gloves or tools be used to collect any fish and to use double-lined plastic bags for disposal

Additional Information
Attached is a summary of common questions and answers about red tide. The public may obtain more information on ongoing red tide events from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. The Institutes' website is http://research.myfwc.com/. Additionally, there is red tide information at the Mote Marine Laboratory website: http://www.mote.org/~mhenry/WREDTIDE.phtml.

To find out more about the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) Red Tide Health Effects Study visit the web site: http://www.mote.org/niehsredtidestudy.

The Florida Poison Control Information Center in Miami has a toll-free 24/7 Aquatic Toxins Hotline for reporting of illnesses from exposure to red tide, or for more information on red tide and associated health effects, at 1-888-232-8635.

844 lb Record Shark Caught in Destin Tournament

PATRICK RICE
Sunday October 14th, 2007

DESTIN – Adlee Bruner’s fishing story is about the big one that didn’t get away. Bruner and five friends headed out Saturday morning on a charter boat, hoping to catch some grouper to enter in the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo. Instead, Bruner landed a gargantuan 844.4-pound mako shark, setting a new record for the decades-old tournament.

“It was tense,” Bruner, 47, said about the fight to land the 11-foot shark with a mouthful of huge teeth. “I’ve fished for 40 years. I’ve never see one that big.”

Click here to read the full story and see more pictures from the Northwest Florida Daily News.

Gulf Shores offers more than just spring break party destination

By MARGARET LITTMAN
For The Tennessean

The Gulf Shores area is actually a composite of three distinct areas — Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach — nestled on the white sands on the Gulf of Mexico 450 miles south of Nashville. These quiet sugar-sand beaches are dotted with multi-million-dollar resort communities featuring breathtaking sunset views, chef-driven restaurants that take advantage of access to fresh-from-the-water fish and golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer.

If you're looking for a more high-end beach vacation, now is the time to plan a Gulf Shores trip for a romantic, grown-up getaway.

Click here to read the full article from the Tennessean.com .

Coastal coverage battle emerges

Click here for Condo Insurance in Orange Beach.

Riley, Hammett say proposal that would help property owners afford policies is meeting with opposition

Thursday, October 11, 2007

By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN

Capital Bureau

MONTGOMERY -- House Speaker Seth Hammett and Gov. Bob Riley signaled this week that there is opposition to a bill intended to help property owners along the coast who are struggling with the price and availability of insurance.

Hammett, D-Andalusia, said he agrees with the governor's decision to not call a special session of the Legislature because of "significant bipartisan opposition" to coastal insurance legislation.

"I absolutely have not seen that," said state Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, sponsor of the bill. "My experience with legislators has been just the opposite, Democrat and Republican. I am puzzled where that perception would come from."

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press Register.

Worker dies in fall at construction site

Thursday, October 11, 2007
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- A construction worker fell to his death Wednesday afternoon while setting a reference line for carpenters on the 10th floor of the Phoenix West II condominiums, authorities said.

Michael Long, 45, of Carthage, Miss., was pronounced dead at the scene, Baldwin County Coroner Jim Small said.

Orange Beach firefighters and paramedics were called to the Gulf-front scene at about 2:30 p.m. to respond to a man who had fallen several stories and was not breathing.

Click here to read the complete article in the Mobile Press-Register.

Letter to the Editor: Proposed Orange Beach Boat Launch

Following is a letter to the editor written by Gene Meyers of Paradise Marine in Gulf Shores.

SHOULD A VOCAL MINORITY WITH POLITICAL CLOUT BE ABLE TO HALT A PUBLIC PROJECT THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF ALABAMA’S CITIZENS?

Click here to view the ad that appeared in the Mobile Press-Register.

Why YOUR support is needed, and YOUR voice must be heard in Montgomery!

If you are a boater, or concerned citizen, you need to read this information, as the consequences will impact your boating enjoyment, and your rights as an Alabamian. The proposed 5 acre Boat Launch Facility would be located on Old River between the Caribe Resort and Ono Island Bridge. The property was to be provided by the State of Alabama and leased to the City of Orange Beach, who would fund and build the project. For the boating public and our community this project is long overdue. Public access to our state’s waterways is shrinking at an alarming rate. Developers have purchased marinas, boat yards and waterfront property and converted these properties to condominium projects. State and local municipalities must be pro-active and take bold steps to address this alarming decline. Without proper access, the average working man and his family is limited in their ability to boat, fish, and play on these waters.

The project opponents, mostly Ono Island residents and members of the Perdido Key Coalition claim that our area boat ramps are under-utilized. Nothing is farther from the truth as any local boater can tell you. (See for Yourself) The lack of parking at these facilities is the most pressing issue and getting worse all the time. On a busy summer weekend hundreds of trailers and tow vehicles park illegally on the side of the roads around the Cotton Bayou boat launch. This causes major public safety concerns for the City of Orange Beach who walk a fine line between both public safety and tourist relations. There are many unfortunate instances when vehicles get towed. These kinds of conflicts do not bode well for a tourist community that depends on a constant flow of satisfied visitors.

In Baldwin County boat registrations are growing at a rate of 2.6%. Baldwin County’s population is also growing at an astronomical rate and many of these citizens have been drawn here by the lure of our inshore and offshore waters. These water access shortcomings can only be addressed by a consistent commitment from the Conservation Department. They must maximize the diminishing opportunities they have to provide fair and equal water access as our state's population grows and our tourism stream increases.

We all know that the City of Orange Beach's foundation and heritage is tightly intertwined with recreational boating and fishing. They understand this and have eagerly provided the initiative, resources and most importantly the foresight, to address the issue. The City has done some impressive work in the design stages of this facility proposal. It is a showpiece to be proud of! It is cutting edge in its visual appeal, physical layout, and proposed operational procedures.

One argument we have heard regularly from project opponents revolves around the impact this project will have in what they claim to be one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the area. We all can agree that this is a beautiful piece of natural property; there is no doubt in our mind. On the other hand by "offering" this parcel to the public good you will allow many more citizens the ability to enjoy, and utilize an even bigger resource, our state’s countless square miles of recreational waterways.

The same people who mask their opposition to this project by cloaking themselves behind the "environmental flag" cannot have it both ways. At one time Ono Island was also a precious and pristine resource until progress and demand allowed it to be heavily built upon and intersected with a network of man-made, environmentally unfriendly canals. Many of these opponents have their piece of paradise, living adjacent to the water. Ono Island residents who oppose this project also have their own private boat ramp facility. They have no boating access problem. Shouldn’t they understand that everyone must have the same privilege to utilize the resource without having to own expensive waterfront property?

Here is an interesting paradox that surfaces regarding this issue. The current entrance and bridge to Ono Island is located on what was also once pristine state property. Years ago when the state offered this parcel, it opened the island up for use by private individuals and developers, not the public. Without that easement grant, Ono Island would not be what it is today, a private gated Island community. The Conservation Department now has the same opportunity to offer a nearby parcel for the benefit of the entire state, not just a few citizens. Wouldn’t this provide a much better return on public investment? After all isn’t it the responsibility of the state to provide for the maximum benefit of the majority of its citizens?

Most of the opponents of the Boat Launch Facility are residents of Ono Island, but not all Ono residents oppose it. Those that do are a very vocal minority and they wield a considerable amount of political clout. They are making their opposition known and getting the ear of state officials. Our voices of SUPPORT must be heard if we are to continue to have convenient access to Alabama’s waterways. If you are a boater, fisherman, or concerned citizen, this issue affects YOU! YOUR support is vital. We urge YOU to write, email, and phone your SUPPORT for this project to Governor Bob Riley, Commissioner M. Barnett Lawley, and the officials of the City of Orange Beach.

* Visit our Government Officials Page for email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers to voice your SUPPORT.

If state officials make the decision to proceed based on the public benefit and consider investment versus the return we have a good chance to get the boat launching facility we so badly need. To have a handful of people thwart this much needed, well planned, and environmentally friendly project would be a travesty. All Alabamians have the right to equal access opportunities to all of Alabama's outdoor resources, not just a privileged few.

We are very passionate about this issue. We stand firm in our belief that every citizen has the right to access our State's natural resources, we also stand firm in our belief that every citizen has the right to be heard. We believe that both sides of every issue should be presented in a fair and accurate manner. Therefore, we are providing a link to our opposition’s web site: www.perdidokeycoalition.com

Publix market coming to Orange Beach

Sunday, October 07, 2007

by Kathy Jumper, Mobile Press-Register

Publix Super Market plans to open a 54,000-square-foot store this spring in Orange Beach's Shoppes at Palm Pointe at the northwest corner of Alabama 182 and 161, according to Ken Bailey of Brigham Williams Commercial Properties in Birmingham. The store will anchor the 194,000-square-foot retail center, he said. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer has 28 stores in Alabama, though this will be the first in south Alabama.

Guy Harvey's Island Grill will open in April in the archway on the marina at The Wharf , a mixed-use development on the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach, according to Jeff Rouzie of The Wharf. Guy Harvey, a marine-biologist-turned-wildlife artist, diver and photographer who lives in Grand Cayman, also will open a 5,650-square-foot Guy Harvey Art Gallery to the east of the 7,000-square-foot Island Grill, and on the west side, a 3,300-square-foot Harvey clothing store, according to Rouzie.

Click here for more business news from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to see a Birdseye-view of the New Publix location.

Mobile Native Marcus Kennedy takes 1st Place in FLW Tournament

Tournament Wrap-up

Orange Beach, AL — October 6, 2007 — Team “Kwazar” captained by Marcus Kennedy of Mobile, Ala., won the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship and $50,000 Saturday in Orange Beach, Ala., with a total catch of two kingfish weighing 77 pounds, 1 ounce. The top prize included a $20,000 Yamaha bonus.


Kennedy and his teammates Max Williams of Milton, Fla. and Mike Ward and Todd Kercher, both of Mobile, ran approximately 65 miles southwest of Orange Beach and caught a 25-pound, 6-ounce kingfish over an area of rocky bottom in 180 feet of water. “This was a place that we usually bottom fish and we’ll occasionally catch a big king off the bottom, so this is a good time of year to go get them.”

The team’s final-round kingfish ate a live blue runner set about 60 feet deep on a downrigger. Kennedy fought the fish and Williams gaffed it after a 25-minute fight. Team “Kwazar” caught 11 kingfish and a white marlin Saturday.

Inclement weather caused the cancellation of Thursday’s scheduled start, so teams competed Friday to qualify for Saturday’s top-five finale. While some teams struggled with the shortened schedule, Kennedy said he relied on his local knowledge to overcome the loss of a qualifying day.

“It didn’t affect me any, I just went out and did the same thing I was doing,” he said. “It just saved me $600 in gas and another day of butt-whipping.”

Team “Kwazar” advanced to the final round of five boats in first place Friday on the strength of a king mackerel weighing 51 pounds, 11 ounces. They caught this fish by slow trolling a live blue runner on a downrigger. For Saturday’s competition, the winners returned to the same area they fished on day one and caught their winning king about a mile from where they caught their Friday fish.

“We had an idea of where the fish were and we stuck with our plan,” Kennedy said. “Fortunately, we got a big one yesterday and went out today and got a big enough one.”

Rounding out the top five teams were team “Old School” captained by Scott Jennings of Port Royal, S.C. (two kingfish, 69-7, $7,800 plus $5,200 Evinrude bonus and $5,200 Wellcraft bonus); team “Sake” captained by Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla. (two kingfish, 67-3, $6,500 plus $4,160 Yamaha bonus and $4,160 Wellcraft bonus); team “Square & Level/Reel Wild” captained by Frank Eldridge of Waycross, Ga. (two kingfish, 66-13, $5,200 plus $3,640 Yamaha bonus); and team “Catch 22” captained by Kevin Arnold of Houston, Texas (two kingfish, 51-6, $4,420 plus $3,120 Yamaha bonus and $3,120 Hydra-Sports bonus).

One hundred and twenty five teams – the top three from each of 15 qualifying tournaments and the top 16 in the points standings from each of five divisions – qualified to fish the tournament. After Friday’s weigh-in, the field was cut to the top five teams based on the heaviest kingfish. The final standings were determined by the total weight of the heaviest kingfish from Friday plus Saturday’s catch.

The Kingfish Series Championship will be featured in a one-hour episode of “FLW Outdoors” broadcast to 80 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) households in the United States and more than 429 million households in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom on Dec. 9. This reach makes “FLW Outdoors” the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 servicemembers stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission hosted the FLW Kingfish Series Championship along with The Wharf, Brett-Robinson, Live Bait at the Wharf and the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

Local pro Marcus Kennedy leads FLW Anglers into Final Day

(Photo- Marcus Kennedy & Max Williams taken by David A. Brown)

By David A. Brown - 06.Oct.2007

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – As the rising sun peeked through Ferris wheel framework at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama, a quintet of kingfish teams headed into a bumpy Gulf of Mexico for their own brand of thrill ride in the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship’s final round.

Local pro Marcus Kennedy, a perennial favorite heading the Mobile, Alabama-based Team Kwazar leads the field with a 51-pound, 11 ounce kingfish. The leaders caught Friday’s top king over natural bottom structure about 65 miles southwest of Orange Beach, and they’ll stick with the same plan today.

“We’ll probably do about the same thing that we did yesterday,” Kennedy said. “We might change the area a little bit, but not much.”

Live baitfish like blue runners (locally called “hardtails”) will be the dominant offering, but Kennedy said he’ll also run dead ribbonfish in his spread. He’ll dress a couple of his live baits with pink or chartreuse skirts to enhance their attraction.

“The water’s clear, but it’s rough out there and I think (a skirt) helps the kings find the bait better,” he said. “I’ll run skirts on two of my baits and the rest of them will be naked.”

Team Kwazar holds a 10-pound lead over second-place Team Sake led by Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla., and a 15-pound margin separates the first and fifth spots. However, with the Northern Gulf of Mexico’s reputation for hordes of monster kings, one lucky break can quickly redirect fortune’s favor.

“If we had any sense we’d go catch a 30-pounder somewhere, but we have to go back and try to catch another big fish,” he said. “If we catch a 40-pounder, it’ll be tough to beat (91 pounds). But there are a lot of good fishermen fishing this tournament so you can’t take anything for granted.”

Tournament officials cancelled Thursday’s scheduled start when inclement weather and extremely rough seas created unsafe boating conditions. Losing one qualifying day in what was originally to be a three-day event put most teams in a swing-for-the fence mode on Friday. FLW Kingfish Series Tournament Director Chris Hoover said the adjusted schedule amplifies the feeling of accomplishment for Saturday’s top-five teams.

“Yesterday was a big day for these teams to go out and get as much weight as they could, but today’s going to take a little bit of pressure off of them because they’ve already made the top five,” Hoover said. “Everyone would love to win, but they all want to make it to that TV day and have the opportunity to (win the Championship).”

Hoover also pointed out that while local knowledge and experience clearly factor into the competitive equation, the first-place prize remains within reach of all top-five teams until the last fish hits the scale Saturday afternoon.

“It’s anyone’s game,” Hoover said. “These teams network so much that they all have (GPS) numbers and locations (to fish). So really all of the teams will have the same opportunity because they’ve networked and they’ve done their homework before they even got here.

“Anything can happen out there today, so it’s going to be really exciting.”

Tournament rules
The Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship, which concludes today, gathers the top finishers from five divisions – North Carolina, South Carolina/Georgia, East Florida, Gulf, and Upper Gulf. The top five teams compete in today’s final round for a top award of as much as $70,000.

Action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. (Central Time) at The Wharf, located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach. The National Guard Family Fun Zone opens at noon with free games and giveaways.

Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:47 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 79 degrees
Expected high temperature: 92 degrees
Water temperature: 79 degrees
Wind: from the east-northeast at 10-15 mph
Humidity: 79 percent
Day’s outlook: Cloudy with isolated thunderstorms

Team Kwzar from Mobile, AL Leads FLW Kingfish Tournament

Orange Beach, AL — October 5, 2007 — Team “Kwazar” captained by Marcus Kennedy of Mobile, Ala., caught a kingfish weighing 51 pounds, 11 ounces Friday to lead the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship in Orange Beach, Ala. Teams are competing for a top award of as much as $70,000.

The event was scheduled to start Thursday, but when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a Small Craft Advisory for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday afternoon, FLW management canceled the first scheduled day of competition as a safety precaution. Teams faced rough seas Friday, but cloudy conditions gave way to clear skies by mid afternoon.

“It was really rough out there,” Kennedy said. “I told the boys ‘We have to just get out there and get it done’.”

Fishing with Max Williams of Pensacola, Fla. and Mike Ward and Todd Kercher, both of Mobile, Kennedy ran approximately 60 miles southwest of Orange Beach and fished over patches of natural bottom in 180 feet. Kennedy said the day’s challenging weather – gusty winds and seas running six feet or more – actually worked in his favor.

“The weather today and local knowledge gives local anglers a little bit of an advantage,” he said. “The (competitors) coming from out of the area are real good fishermen, but with as rough as it was, they couldn’t run all over the Gulf.”

The top kingfish hit a live blue runner on a downrigger set 70 feet deep at 11 a.m. Kennedy handled the rod and Ward gaffed the fish after a 10-minute fight. Team Kwazar caught three other kings in the 30-pound class.

Kennedy, who usually mans the helm during tournaments, said his rod duty was an impromptu occurrence. “I was the angler by default – all of my crew was busy somewhere else on the boat.”

Rounding out the top five teams are team “Sake” captained by Neil Nix of Okeechobee, Fla. (41-09); team “Square & Level/Reel Wild” captained by Frank (Pete) Eldridge of Waycross, Ga. (40-14); team “Old School” captained by Scott Jennings of Port Royal, S.C. (38-04); and team “Catch 22” captained by Kevin Arnold of Houston, Texas (36-06).

Overall, 125 teams – the top three from each of 15 qualifying tournaments and the top 16 in the points standings from each of five divisions – qualified to fish this week. The top five teams based on the heaviest kingfish from Friday will continue competition Saturday, and the winner will be determined by the total weight of Friday plus Saturday’s catch. The winning team will earn as much as $70,000, which includes $30,000 for the win plus a $20,000 bonus from Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl or Wellcraft and a $20,000 bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met.

Teams take off and weigh in at The Wharf located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach. Saturday’s final takeoff is at 7 a.m. followed by the weigh-in at 4 p.m. The FLW Kingfish Series Family Fun Zone will open at noon Saturday and will include a National Guard HD theater, rock climbing wall and Humvee display. Admission to all activities is free.

The Kingfish Series Championship will be featured in a one-hour episode of “FLW Outdoors” broadcast to 80 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) households in the United States and more than 429 million households in such countries as Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom on Dec. 9. This reach makes “FLW Outdoors” the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 service members stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000

Weather Conditions for FLW Tournament Better by a Little Today

Weather slightly yields to delayed Kingfish Series Championship

By David A. Brown

Orange Beach, AL - October 5, 2007 – After sitting out the first scheduled day of competition, teams launched under threatening skies and faced only mildly improved sea conditions at the start of the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship at Orange Beach, Ala.

When a passing low pressure system built offshore seas to eight feet or more, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a Small Craft Advisory for the Northern Gulf Wednesday afternoon. That prompted FLW management to cancel Thursday’s competition and adjust the tournament to a single day of full field qualifying, followed by Saturday’s top-five finale.

John Akers of the Ozona, Fla. based Team Mutual Fun plans on running 40-50 miles southwest from Mobile Pass, but he realizes the day’s conditions may limit his range. “Weather permitting, we’ll hit some of the spots where we prefished. The weather’s going to dictate what we’re going to be able to do or not do.

“During prefishing we didn’t find great fish, but we found fish. That in and of itself could be a winning tactic as tough as it is out there. If we can find some fish, we’ll weed through the smaller ones and hopefully get a bigger bite.”

At the check out, most teams headed west down the Intracoastal Waterway toward Mobile Bay. This course affords an easy run through protected waters. At the bay, the majority of teams will head south or southwest to fish near drilling rigs, which harbor voluminous baitfish of the baitfish king mackerel seek.

Capt. Jared Landry of Jeanerette, La. and his Mowinsargassum teammates are well-accustomed to fishing Northern Gulf waters. Fortunately, the easterly blow favors a run toward their home waters of the Mississippi delta. “With the seas coming out of the east, we’ll just try to chug-a-lug with them and go as far as we can. We’re going to target the 80- to 100-foot range. We found some decent fish over there (during practice) so we’ll go back and try to find them again.”

Slow trolling live baits such as blue runners, cigar minnows, and menhaden on wire “stinger” rigs will be the dominant strategy. Rough seas will complicate the task of keeping lines clear, so teams will likely fish three to four rods, rather than the usual five to six.

Earl “Radar” Blake, who fishes the FLW Kingfish Tour with Team Chevy, joins Team Sea Bandit for the Series Championship. Blake said teams will need a heavy fish to make the top-five cut. “I think it’ll take one in the 40’s or 50’s.”

Akers intends to balance competition with security. “We’re excited to be here and we’re looking forward to a great day of fishing. It going to be a little gamey out there today, but we just hope everybody stays safe and has a great day.”

Tournament rules
The Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship, which runs Oct. 4-6, gathers the top finishers from five divisions – North Carolina, South Carolina/Georgia, East Florida, Gulf, and Upper Gulf. The full field fishes today and the top five teams advance to Saturday’s final round. Teams are competing for a top award of $70,000.

Action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. (Central Time) at The Wharf, located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach.

Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:46 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 79 degrees
Expected high temperature: 91 degrees
Water temperature: 79 degrees
Wind: from the east at 10-15 mph
Humidity: 82 percent
Day’s outlook: Cloudy with showers and possible thunderstorms

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Mgt Council to Meet in Biloxi, MS

Tampa, Florida – October 4, 2007 - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will meet October 29 – November 1, 2007 at the Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi. Council Committees will meet beginning Monday afternoon until about 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a meeting of the full Council.

The Reef Fish Management Committee will review the results of the scoping meetings for Reef Fish Amendment 29 and meet with industry representatives from British Columbia with experience in individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs. Amendment 29 proposes to rationalize effort and reduce overcapacity in the commercial grouper fishery in order to achieve and maintain optimum yield. Options under consideration include eliminating latent permits, a buyback or buyout program, permit endorsements, an IFQ, and an individual transferable effort quota (ITEQ).

A preliminary public hearing draft of Reef Fish Amendment 30B, which will co-manage gag and red grouper, will also be discussed. The amendment looks at adjusting total allowable catch (TAC) for both species – increasing it for red grouper and, because gag is currently undergoing overfishing, lowering its TAC. Adjustments to the recreational and commercial allocations for both species is also under consideration, along with additional restricted areas to provide increased protections for spawning gag and other reef fish.

Amendment 30A is also up for discussion. The committee will review public hearing summaries, as well as recommendations from its SSC and AP. This amendment proposes to reduce the harvest of both greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in order to end overfishing and rebuild the stocks. It also adjusts allocation between recreational and commercial sectors for both species.

The Committee will also receive reports on and discuss:
· A preliminary draft red snapper allocation discussion document
· The effects of marine reserves (Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps)
· The results of two Ecosystem Modeling Workshops held to determine the feasibility of this approach in addressing fishery management issues

The Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/Red Drum Management Committee will discuss the Generic Amendment for Regulation of Offshore Aquaculture. The Aquaculture amendment proposes to develop a regional permitting process for regulating environmentally sound aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It will apply to all Gulf fishery management plans.

The Data Collection Committee is also slated to meet, and will discuss reports from the Council’s SSC Select Committee on its participation in the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) workshops. The MRIP workshops are a result of a 2006 report by the National Research Council on potential problems with the current marine recreational fishing surveys, and will eventually result in a complete redesign of the MRFSS data collection system.

The Red Drum Management Committee is scheduled to discuss recommendations from the Ad Hoc Review Panel for Red Drum. The panel will meet this month and is charged with developing a long-term research program to collect age structure information on red drum.

The Shrimp Management Committee will receive reports on the status of the shrimp stocks and review data on 2007 permits and effort, and the Habitat Protection Committee will discuss recommendations made by the Texas and Mississippi/Louisiana Habitat Protection Advisory Panels.

Finally, the Spiny Lobster/Stone Crab Management Committee will discuss a draft public scoping document on imported size limits for imported spiny lobster.

Public testimony is set for Wednesday, October 31, 2007, beginning at 2:15 p.m. ending no later than 4:15 p.m., and will be accepted on Exempted Fishing Permits (if any) and Reef Fish Amendment 30A. The Council will also hold an open public comment session to give members of the public an opportunity to address the Council on fishery issues that may not be on the agenda. Open public comment will begin immediately following public testimony.

Beginning Thursday, the Council will deliberate and take action on committee recommendations made earlier in the week. Before adjourning, the Council will elect a new Chairman and Vice Chairman.

For a copy of the Committee Agenda or Full Council Agenda, or for copies of documents pertaining to any of these issues, please call 888-833-1844, or E-mail the Council at gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org.

Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Council and Committees for discussion, in accordance with the M-SFCMA, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the Council and Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the M-SFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.

The established times for addressing items on the agenda may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the agenda items. In order to allow for such adjustments and completion of all items on the agenda, the meeting may be extended from, or completed prior to the date established in this notice. Meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina Trezza at the Council five days prior to the meeting.

Click here for more information from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's website.

Day One of FLW Kingfish Series Canceled due to Weather

Orange Beach, AL- October 4, 2007 — Day one of the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series Championship in Orange Beach has been cancelled due to high winds, strong thunderstorms and turbulent seas.

“With the present and forecasted conditions we have deemed it unsafe for our crews to head out today,” said FLW Kingfish Series tournament director Chris Hoover. “Our main priority is the safety of teams. We don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize their well being.”

With the cancellation of day one, competition will start Friday morning at the regularly scheduled time. The full field will compete Friday, and the top-five teams based on the day’s heaviest catches will move on to Saturday’s final round. The winner will be determined by the total weight of both Friday and Saturday’s catch.

The winning team will earn as much as $70,000 cash, which includes $30,000 for the win plus a $20,000 bonus from Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl or Wellcraft and a $20,000 bonus from Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met.

Teams will take off and weigh in at The Wharf located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach. Friday’s takeoff is at 6:45 a.m. with the scales opening at 4 p.m. Saturday’s final takeoff is at 7 a.m. followed by the weigh-in at 4 p.m. The FLW Kingfish Series Family Fun Zone will open at noon Saturday and will include a National Guard HD theater, rock climbing wall and Humvee display. Admission to all activities is free.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission is hosting the event along with The Wharf, Brett-Robinson, Live Bait at the Wharf and the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

Fundraiser Run to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
by Alton Wallace

The 1st Annual Running Scared 5k race, a fundraiser to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail, will be held Oct. 27 at 5:00 p.m. All proceeds will go to trail improvements, which will be implemented by the City of Orange Beach.

Participants can register for $20 and will receive a t-shirt, says Susan Shallow, one of the event’s organizers. “We are trying to raise awareness of the trail, and raise money for it,” Shallow said. “So far, the expenses have been covered by donations, but we can certainly use more help putting on this event. Every penny we raise will go for trail improvements.” Running Scared will be held on the trail, and will begin and end at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The first male and female to cross the finish line will win an awards package that includes a stay at a gulf-front luxury condominium. Runners finishing first in other categories will also receive prizes. Wheel chair racers may also participate. A post race party beginning at 6:30 will feature the music of Bluz Brothers II, food and refreshments.

Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for creativity. For more information or to register for the race on-line, go to www.RunningScared5k.com. Those wishing to donate supplies for the post race party should call Susan Shallow at (251)979-0501.

A two-mile portion of the Trail, known when it opened in 2002 as the Catman Trail, has already become a refuge for walkers and bikers. In 2004, the city of Orange Beach partnered with Gulf State Park in a plan to add about 7.5 miles to the trail, a picnic pavilion and restrooms, an additional trailhead on State Park Rd. 2, and expanded parking on Alabama Hwy. 161. A trail segment of about three miles opened along with the picnic pavilion and restrooms last March, and what will ultimately become a 9.5-mile-long trail was officially named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Orange Beach city officials expect that the final trail segments will be paved by early 2008.

Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West, who is overseeing development of the trail, said funds raised from Running Scared will probably be used for water fountains placed near the Sportsplex and/or Alabama 161 trailhead, exercise stations or possibly additional asphalt paving on a spur near Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Click here to register for this event on the Running Scared Website.

Click here for more information about this event.

Click here for a Birdseye-view of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trailhead at Orange Beach Blvd.