The 2019 Orange Beach Fall UTR Tennis Tournament was held at the Orange Beach Tennis Center November 22 to November 24. The three-day event attracted 118 players from states throughout the Southeast.

Players traveled from many states including: 

Orange Beach Elementary School has been awarded the 2019 Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence by the Alabama Attorney General. It’s the sixth time the school has earned Safe Schools recognition. 

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the winners in a press release on Friday, December 13, 2019. The release is as follows: 

With more than 194,084 votes cast by Gulf Coast Media readers, the Coastal Arts Center, Surf Rescue and the beaches in Orange Beach have been named the Big Beautiful Baldwin’s Best of 2020. Congratulations to all of the city’s dedicated staff who earned this recognition including those Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, Orange Beach Surf Rescue, Coastal Resources and Public Works.

The Orange Beach City Council voted unanimously on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 to appoint Mike Kimmerling as Fire Chief. He had been serving as interim chief since June when Chief Justin Pearce retired.

By Jessica Langston

Those of us who think about retiring on a beautiful beach probably have visions of offshore fishing, boating, swimming, sunbathing and daiquiris. In much the same vein, Orange Beach Fire Department Chief Mike Kimmerling intended to retire here in Orange Beach after many years in Bloomington, Illinois, so that he could surf, bike, swim and boat.

Orange Beach Firefighters Philip Stewart and Jim McMurray graduated from the Coastal Alabama Community College Paramedic program on December 10. 2019 at a pinning ceremony in Gulf Shores.

The City of Orange Beach is commemorating the State of Alabama’s bicentennial by giving out Alabama 200 commemorative Christmas ornaments. Stop by City Hall or the Coastal Arts Center to pick one up while supplies last. 

On Saturday, December 14th events are planned in Montgomery as a grand finale of Alabama’s three-year bicentennial commemoration.

The public is invited to nominate a residence and a business by Dec. 18 as part of the Orange Beach Garden Club’s annual “Light Up Orange Beach” contest. 

The Orange Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 2:30 p.m. Monday, December 9th for a work session followed by 4 p.m. regular meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 

The Orange Beach Police Department invites the public to its annual Kids’ Christmas Party with Santa from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11th at Magnolia Hall, behind BuzzCatz, next to Cosmo’s.

Families are encouraged to enjoy games, crafts and photos with Santa. Kids can wear their favorite Christmas pajamas and parents can wear their ugliest Christmas sweater!