COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 3
Bryant Bank celebrates Orange Beach Grand Opening
The Islander
IN BRIEF
JUNE 28, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com |
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Jeff Boyd announces run for state senate
Turtle Tracks unveils Community Turtle at Gulf Shores Middle School Turtle Tracks unveiled the sixth completed turtle for the program at Gulf Shores Middle School. Gulf Shores Middle School sponsored the turtle through Dolphin Tank, a program tasking students to come up with an idea to benefit their community. For more, see page 34.
GCM STAFF PHOTOS
Orange Beach Councilman Jeff Boyd announces his candidacy for state senate. STAFF REPORT Stormy weather didn’t put a damper on the kickoff for Orange Beach Councilman Jeff Boyd’s campaign for the District 32 Alabama Senate Seat on Sunday, as hundreds of supporters showed up to support his candidacy. Orange Beach Councilwoman
Annette Mitchell introduced Boyd at the event, saying he would be a definite asset for the area. “I know Jeff as a loving husband and father, a faith-filled and fun loving loyal friend, a passionate, dedicated knowledgable city council member,” Mitchell said. “As our state senator, Jeff will
By CRYSTAL COLE crystal@gulfcoastmedia.com
First-run plays are rare on the Gulf Coast… until now. The South Baldwin Community Theater is offering an entire weekend of new, never been performed short plays. The End of the Road Festival will take place July 14-16 at the South Baldwin Community Theater in Gulf Shores and will feature nine new plays by playwrights from all over the nation. For ticket information, go to page 31.
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Matthew Donald Akstin Clarence Albert Burgess Genesis Israel Cooper Torrey Thadd Mund Clifford Oliver Peters Jacqueline Poling Stroud
bring his considerable talents, his work ethic and his passion for coastal Alabama all the way to Montgomery.” During his speech, Boyd mentioned the recent battle with the federal government over the recreational red snapper season as an example of his resolve and his use of relationships to try to af-
fect change for local residents. “I’ve learned in my life to build relationships, and I’ve spent the last years traveling to Montgomery and to Washington,” Boyd said. “My love and my passion is building those relationships.” Boyd said he was shocked by the federal decision to shorten SEE BOYD, PAGE
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Gulf Shores purchases land for Auburn project, eyes rec expansion
South Baldwin Community Theater to host play festival
DEATHS
Boyd and fellow Councilman Jerry Johnson share a conversation after the announcement.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ORANGE BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Home to an international biscuit champion, Buzzcatz recently hosted Coffee With a Cop. The regularly held event allows for citizens to come out and meet their law enforcement officers. Officers take time out of their day to answer questions and discuss matters of public safety (or great fishing stories) with attendees. Be sure to check this event out the next time it’s announced.
Gulf Shores residents and visitors may soon have much larger selection of fitness offerings. The proposal being considered is to expand the Cultural Center on County Road 6 to be an extension of the Bodenhamer Center and to provide health and fitness offerings to the population in the northern part of the city. Grant Brown, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director, presented the expansion proposal to the council. He said the Bodenhamer Center holds approximately 45 classes weekly, all in one room. “The number of patrons who are using the rec center, the number of memberships that we have, the number of daily passes that we sell, we’re getting to the point where we are getting toward the
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capacities that were originally thought about when the rec center was first built,” Brown said. “We also have a problem as out city continues to grow in the north, and a lot of our recreation is still confined to the island.” The facility boasts more classrooms that, while at a smaller capacity each than at Bodenhamer, will help expand the classes available. Barre, TRX resistance training and cycling classes will be offered as well as a computerized kiosk with downloadable content from the web. The proposal requests bolstered staffing for the Cultural Center as well as a fee increase for access to the facilities. “In a nutshell, it’s a very small four to five percent increase,” Brown said. “The pool-based membership would see the biggest increase for the few people who only utilize the pool. Quite
honestly, that pool is the single most expensive piece of equipment we maintain.” Brown said the daily pass rate would jump from $5 to $10, but that the daily pass was always meant for trial purposes and visitors only. The Bodenhamer Center is nearing 20 years of service and in that time Brown said there has only been one price increase for access to its offerings. The new prices would include membership at both facilities. Councilman Philip Harris spoke out in strong support of the proposal. “To me, we purchased that property in order to expand our services to the north part of the community,” Harris said. “This is doing that, and it’s good to see that the demand is there. I’m glad to see that plan is coming
Gulf Coast Media
BALDWIN LIVING,5-7
OUT & ABOUT, 22
CLASSIFIED, 8-9
PUZZLES, 10
HEALTH, 18-22
SPORTS, 11-13
VOLUME 41 • ISSUE 27
LEGALS, 25-30
TV LISTINGS, 14-17
1 SECTION • 36 PAGES
OPINION, 31-32
SEE LAND, PAGE
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