TWO FISHING TOURNEMENTS COMING TO THE AREA! by; Rick McCann

GULF SHORES, ALA.----JULY 4 2007 The world's top saltwater anglers return to Gulf Shores this weekend for the only Alabama stop on the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup circuit.
The most visible and lucrative saltwater fishing series in the world, organizers said, will be at Lucy Buffett's Lulu's at Homeport Marina Friday through Sunday. Daily weigh-ins will take place at 3 p.m. on the custom-designed Redfish Cup stage in the midst of a festival atmosphere featuring live music and local vendors.
The event will feature the top 30 teams of the past three years based on cumulative points, battling it out for the $60,000 top prize.
The fishing action kicks off Friday when the anglers set out from Lulu's Homeport Marina into the Gulf of Mexico. After two days, the field will be trimmed to just the top five teams for a final-day showdown on Sunday. Full tournament coverage can be seen each Sunday at 7 a.m. EST on ESPN2, organizers said.
"This is a pivotal moment in the season for our anglers," said David Healy, vice president of sales and sponsorship for the cup. "We're a little over halfway through the season, so there's going to be some new faces that have only recently qualified for the All-Stars, as well as the saltwater stars our fans have come to expect."
The Gulf Shores All-Star Midseason Bash will also feature a charity silent auction with all proceeds going to Care House, a local center for physically, mentally and sexually abused children. The auction will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Lulu's.
Fishing fans will have the chance to bid on many different items, including autographed selections from the Guy Harvey "Artist Series" wine collection. The famed artist, scientist, diver, underwater videographer and angler has created a different marine wildlife-themed label for each custom-blended varietal using his signature compelling action and fine detail. Guy Harvey Enterprises also has donated several framed and matted limited edition prints for the auction.
The Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup is in its fifth year. The 2007 Cup, which features 10 events from Texas to North Carolina, offers its largest purse ever at more than $2 million.
"Working with the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Nation staff and anglers last year for another All-Star event and the Redfish Championship was great for Alabama's Gulf Coast," said Beth Gendler, director of sales at the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We are very excited to welcome the group back and know it will be a fantastic event. This event just adds to the excitement of summer vacation along the beautiful beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, not to mention the fun atmosphere at Lulu's restaurant. We hope to see this event happen in Gulf Shores for many years to come."
Sponsors of the 2007 Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup includes Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky, Tabasco, Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Lake and Bay Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Falcon Rods, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Lucky Craft, Motorguide, Berkley, Texas Tackle Factory, Finatic Fishing Apparel, McAleer Marine, Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission, Lulu's at Homeport Marina and the Cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.
To learn more about the Alabama Gulf Coast, visit www.gulfshores.com or call 1-800-745-SAND (7263).


DAULPHIN ISLAND------July 20,21 and 22 the annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing 75th tournament will kick off sponsored by the Mobile Jaycee's. This year the event is expecting some 3,000 fishermen to enter and as always it will be a great week-end! There is a entry fee for participants but no charge for all of the spectators.

G.S. CHASE ENDS IN CRASH by; Rick McCann

GULF SHORES, Ala. July 4 2007 -- A woman was rushed to the hospital late Tuesday night after being involved in an accident.
Witnesses say the woman was being chased by authorities. The alleged chase reportedly began in Orange Beach and ended in Gulf Shores.
Witnesses say the woman driving the car, hit a patch of grass during the chase, went airborne, hit several palm trees and a fire hydrant. The vehicle came to rest in a sand dune.
The woman was taken to South Baldwin Medical Center, where her condition is not known at this time.

HIGH WINDS CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE by; Rick McCann

MOBILE, ALA. July 4 2007-------High winds from a microburst is what hit the I-65 Service Rd. Walmart yesterday causing the roof to be peeled back and heavy rains to flood parts of the store. A fire sprinkler also burst causing more water damage in the store as well as a gas main breaking causing emergency workers a bigger problem. Fifteen people were at first reportedly hurt but officials now say that six people were injured, non were life threatening.
Microbursts from severe thunderstorms bring winds up to 55mph according to local meterologists and usually cover a small area. In this incident the Walmart store sustained heavy damage while other nearby businesses reported no damage at all. Several witnesses reported seeing a funnel cloud cross I-65 as it tossed a car around.
In another area of Mobile near the Daulphin Island Parkway witnesses said that a funnel cloud touched down and damaged a church and several homes.
Mobile and Baldwin county sheriff departments reported no storm related damage in their areas.

MIGRANT WORKER CHARGED WITH SODOMY by; Rick McCann

FAIRHOPE, ALA. JULY 3 2007——A 21 year old Jamaican migrant worker has been arrested and charged with sodomy in connection with an incident last week with a 13 year old girl.
Fairhope Police arrested Euyclyn Ellis who resides at the foreign workers housing near the high school. Police say that the incident occurred at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear and that he was off duty at the time. Ellis has been suspended from his job and is currently being held at the Baldwin county jail.

2 MEN CHARGED WITH RAPING SAME GIRL BY; Rick McCann

GULF SHORES, ALA.--JULY 3 2007 Two north Baldwin County men stand accused of having sex with the same underage girl on separate occasions.
Sometime in the last couple months, Fredrick Richardson, 31, and Lautravis Gray, 32, raped a girl between the ages of 12 and 15, according to Baldwin County Sheriff's Office spokesman Maj. Anthony Lowery. The incidents are not believed to be connected, however.
Richardson was arrested Friday on charges of second-degree rape and production of obscene material. Lowery said Richardson used a camera phone to take photos of sex acts with the girl. Gray turned himself in Friday to the Baldwin County Corrections Center on charges of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy.

TONADOES HIT MOBILE by; Rick McCann

MOBILE, ALA. JULY 3 2007------High winds from a strong thunderstorm hit the Wal-Mart Supercenter on the east Interstate-65 service road shortly before 2:30 p.m. this afternoon and 15 people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Mobile authorities.
The winds peeled off a large section of the store's roof, according to information heard over the police and fire radio channels.
Plant racks from Wal-Mart were found scattered on Springdale Boulevard, more than half a mile away, authorities reported.
Officials with the National Weather Service said the damage was likely cause by a microburst. No tornadoes were indicated on radar, officials said.
No other information was immediately available

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME by; Rick McCann

SPANISH FORT ALABAMA JULY 1 2007-----Builders, investors and city officials alike hope that this old adage is true to its words. After many months of delays, negoiations and meetings, the Bass Pro Superstore, hotels and a huge shopping center is finally underway again at the I-10/Hwy 98 intersection on the Daphne/Spanish Fort line.
Bulldozers and construction workers have started clearing land again and activity is everywhere along that property. Drivers on Interstate 10 can now easily see that something big is happening and that something grand is being built.
Upon completion, this center will have several large big name box store anchors, dozens of shops and botiques, restuarants, several hotels and of couse the Bass store.
A few estimates of completion and grand openings have been tossed around but as of now there are no firm dates. As soon as they are announced, we'll bring them to you right here!

MAN DROWNS IN POOL by; Rick McCann

GULF SHORES ALABAMA---JULY 1 2007----Local police and county officials are trying to determine if a Gulf Shores man found dead in his pool Saturday morning drowned or died from another cause and fell into the water, Baldwin County Coroner James Small said.
William Price, 51, was found at 1:50 a.m. at his home on Fort Morgan Road, Small said. He said Price was found by his wife after the man failed to come to bed. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Small said Price was dressed for bed when found in the pool. The death is under investigation by Gulf Shores police, Small said.

CORRECTION OFFICER FIRED by; Rick McCann

Bay Minnette, AL—-July 1 2007—–A three-year veteran with the Baldwin County Sheriff department, David L. Brown, 40, has been terminated and has until the end of next week to appeal his termination, according to Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Jr. Brown had left a woman — charged earlier this year with leaving an infant unattended in a car — inside the transport van while he attended a sexual harassment training session inside the jail, the sheriff said.
Brown had worked in jail transportation for about a year, Mack said.
The allegations will be forwarded to the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

HOT WEATHER CONTINUES ALONG THE GULF COAST----Rick McCann

GULF SHORES ALABAMA--JULY 1ST, 2007

HERE WE ARE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, SUNNY SKIES, HOT TEMPS, WHITE SAND BEACHES AND COOL EMERALD WATERS AND THE HEAT IS ON!

THE WEATHER ALONG THE GULF CONTINUES TO BE HOT AND HUMID WITH NO REAL BREAK IN SIGHT.

IF YOU'RE COMING HERE FOR VACATION PACK PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN AND BRING YOUR COOLER FULL OF WATER!

THE FORECAST FOR THIS AREA FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS IS;

SUN-HIGHS 90.......LOWS 75.....SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS LATE IN THE DAYS AFTER THINGS HEAT UP...VERY NORMAL FOR THE BEACHES DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR!

ENJOY YOURSELF AND YOUR STAY ON PLEASURE ISLAND!