FAIRHOPE, Ala. Fairhope Police have taken three juveniles into custody after investigating several burglaries in recent days.
Police said that the three Fairhope teens were arrested for breaking into the K-1 Center on Church Street.
Two fourteen-year-olds and one thirteen-year-old were identified by security footage and during an investigation admitted to breaking into the building on two separate occasions, removing items and vandalizing the building.
The three are charged with Burglary 3rd and will proceed to juvenile court.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. A scene right out of a movie in one part of Mobile has ended with the arrest of a man armed with an automatic firearm.
Mobile police officers first responded to the area of the 1500 block of Plover Street in March for a house fire where the residents escaped but one was overcome by smoke inhalation.
After firefighters extinguished the blaze at around 4:30 a.m., police and fire personnel investigated the cause of the fire and determined that an oxygen tank had exploded inside the house. The cause was determined to be that it had been struck by gunfire and caused an explosion.
Mobile Police Department officers have arrested a man in connection with a shooting that led to a house fire on Plover Street in March.
20-year-old Jeremiah Timothy Turner of Mobile has been arrested and booked into the Metro Jail and charged with converting a pistol into a machine gun and discharging a gun into an occupied building.
Turner could face additional charges including federal gun charges.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. The Mobile Police Department responded to a call within our jurisdiction for a subject who was brought to AltaPointe Health by a neighboring law enforcement agency late Monday afternoon.
Through the course of AltaPointe’s thorough intake measures, the staff realized right away the subject was not who he claimed to be. It was discovered that he gave the previous law enforcement agency false information.
Once their suspicions were heightened, the Mobile Police Department was notified immediately. Mobile police officers responded and were able to properly identify the subject as Lee Collins III who is wanted on two counts of murder in Louisiana.
We notified the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and they are coming to Mobile to interview the subject and begin the process of having him extradited back to Louisiana.
The Department of Public Safety’s partnership with AltaPointe Health remains strong, and the staff knew immediately what action to take when contacting us for assistance. Their fast thinking and calm demeanor helped bring this to a quick resolution.
No additional information will be released and the Louisiana law enforcement will take the lead on this case.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FOLEY, Ala. With the continued growth of Foley, the city continues to upgrade services and make major improvements on public buildings including a new senior citizen complex that has been approved.
Foley City Council voted to seek proposals for the design of a new senior center building, marking the next step in a long-discussed effort to expand services for the city’s older population.
David Thompson, Foley’s executive director of leisure services, said officials had previously explored repurposing the current library building once a new library opens later in 2026. After evaluating that option, the city determined that renovating the library would be less practical than building a new facility tailored to senior services.
Nationally, our population is ageing and we’re giving them the quality of life that they deserve and it’s something that would benefit Foley.
The current building is heavily used and at times it’s overloaded, said Mayor Ralph Hellmich. The current senior center on East Rose Avenue offers about 7,000 square feet of space, which city officials say no longer meets the needs of a growing senior population or the increasing demand for programs and services.
We thought that the library could work, but after looking at that building, we found that it would require a lot of excess money to change the use of that building. It’s by far better to do a purpose-built building where you get better bang for your buck and then keep the old library for other uses, the mayor said.
Hellmich said a potential location for the new facility is near the former National Guard armory behind City Hall. The armory is undergoing renovations and is expected to house new city offices and recreation facilities later this year, creating what officials envision as a centralized hub for municipal and community services.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. The Eastern Shore Business and Home Expo, a community-focused event highlighting commerce, innovation and connection across Baldwin County will be held at the Fairhope Civic Center on Thursday, April 30th, 2026.
This event is scheduled from noon until 4:30 p.m. and will feature a variety of vendors and exhibitors.
Organizers say the event will bring together companies and community members for an afternoon centered on collaboration, networking and growth and will showcase the range and strength of businesses throughout the Eastern Shore.
The event is free and open to the public, offering residents and visitors an accessible way to learn more about the region’s economic landscape and the services available to them.
Attendees will have the chance to meet business owners face to face, explore new products and services and develop relationships within the local business community.
In addition to the exhibitor floor, the expo will feature a series of breakout sessions led by local experts and industry professionals. The sessions are designed to provide practical insights, educational opportunities and inspiration for both business owners and attendees, covering topics relevant to today’s marketplace.
Participating vendors will also be invited to a VIP Happy Hour immediately following the event, creating an additional setting for networking and partnership building in a more informal environment.
Organizers say that booth space remains available for businesses interested in participating, with options designed to accommodate companies of varying sizes.
The event is presented by Southern View Media.
For more information and a complete FAQ, visit www.easternshorebusiness.com.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. An Alabama State Trooper attempted to stop a motorcycle for several moving violations Monday evening at around 7:40 p.m., April 6th, 2026, but the driver fled leading police on a pursuit.
As the trooper continued the chase that went along Schillinger Road passing Airpark Drive, Ziegler Blvd and the motorcyclist continued attempting to evade police. Several law enforcement agencies joined the trooper to attempt to get the driver stopped. The driver even turned off his lights, driving in the dark and at one point went against traffic, going head on with other drivers.
The pursuit continued for about twenty-five minutes and at one point it looked like the biker was attempting to flee into Mississippi but crashed before making it to the state line.
Jordan B Balthaser then ran into the wood line but was quickly apprehend by law enforcement officers and taken into custody. Balthaser received minor injuries and was treated by EMS.
Police also determined that the motorcycle that he was driving had been reported stolen.
Balthaser faces a laundry list of charges including:
Receiving Stolen Property 1st -Degree Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance- Felony Reckless Endangerment Attempting to Elude-Felony Improper Lane Change Driving-No Lights Driving Under the Influence Open Alcohol Beverage Improper Lane Change Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Balthaser is currently in the Mobile County Metro Jail and being held without bond.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. The city of Bay Minette has once again changed its police chief, according to the mayor’s office.
Chief James Rosier Jr. has worked for the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and has specialized experience in the Internal Affairs Bureau.
He is also a veteran of the United States Armed Forces.
“Mr. Rosier is a stellar candidate for this position,” said Mayor Joshua Brown. “After a rigorous interview process, it became clear that his veteran leadership and deep experience in various facets of law enforcement make him the ideal choice to lead our department forward.”
“I’m excited. The timing is not lost on me,” Rosier said. “With Novelis opening, the city is growing, and the department will need to grow too. The department has a good staff, so I’m ready to get in there, roll up my sleeves, and rise to the challenge.”
Rosier will be sworn in on May 6, with Acting Chief Stracener to assume the role of Assistant Police Chief.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. A Monday morning traffic stop in Baldwin County by an ALEA state trooper ended with the arrest of the female driver who the trooper discovered was a wanted fugitive.
After stopping the driver, later identified as K’Dorien N Bumpers, 22, for a moving violation, a check of her license found that she was driving on a suspended driver’s license. Further investigation found that she was wanted in several jurisdictions on felony arrest warrants.
Bumpers was taken into custody and charged with the driving offense and the outstanding warrants and taken to the Baldwin County Detention Center where she is being held without bail.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. On Saturday, April 4, 2026, at approximately 12:30 a.m., police officers were dispatched to 779 Lakeside Drive (AZ Phone Repair) to investigate a possible burglary.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a door to the business was shattered. Several officers secured the premises and began to investigate.
As officers made entry, they discovered that a male subject had broken into the business and attempted to access merchandise before leaving the area.
Through the course of the investigation, the subject was identified and located, and police were able to apprehend Michael Presley, 21, who was arrested and transported to Metro Jail.
Presley has been charged with:
POSSESSION MARIJUANA 2ND
BURGLARY 3RD DEGREE
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. It’s no secret that as cities within Baldwin County continue to attract new residents and their populations continue to explode that some have split from the Baldwin County School System to begin their own locally controlled school board.
In Baldwin County, Gulf Shores formed their own school board in 2019. Gulf Shores Mayor Kraft and other city leaders had done their homework, worked through some studies and listened to experts and made a decision that controlling their own funds and their own destination that being self-governed would be best for Gulf Shores.
To no one’s surprise, another fast-growing beach city, Orange Beach, followed in 2022.
While most communities in Baldwin County are small enough to need the finances and other support that a county school system brings, several other areas including Fairhope could more than likely step away from the county and form their own school system. Fairhope continues to grow expediently through grass roots efforts as well as annexing property sitting outside of their city limits.
In recent years, Fairhope actively focused on bringing in surrounding areas to manage growth and utility services, including approving a 14-acre parcel on Twin Beach Road in late 2025. The city passed an ordinance in 2024 requiring property owners to petition for annexation to connect to the municipal water system, aiming to control development density. Currently two new developments sitting on the outskirts of their city limits are being eyed for annexation including a project, which includes restaurants, an 18-hole golf course and more than 300 homes near the Fairhope-Barnwell line on a large piece of property off Greeno Road could be next to be brought into the Fairhope fold.
The property straddles property along Monk Road and County Road 3 just east of County Road 1.
The steady growth brings various streams of revenue for such cities including a strong tax base that could support establishing their own school system.
Two studies have examined the possibility. One was commissioned by the city, the other by a citizens group. Their conclusions differ sharply. The city’s study says a millage increase would be required to launch a Fairhope school system. The citizens group says it can be done without raising taxes. But Mayor Sherry Sullivan has said that a decision has not yet been made but the door is open.
Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan said any decision is far from being made.
“There are a lot more conversations to be had before anything is decided on this,” she said. “It could drastically split our community.”
Both studies showed a little different result, including one that was done by Birmingham-based Criterion Consulting LLC that suggests new taxes would be required.
In their study, $7.6 million in new property taxes through a 10.37-mill increase. For a $300,000 home, that would mean about $300 more per year.
Scenario 2: Limits capital expenses to maintenance projects. It would require $4 million in new taxes, or a 5.47-mill increase.
The group was paid $25,000 for the study.
Fairhope residents have contributed significant annual revenues to the Baldwin County School System which, if Fairhope separates to form their own school system, that money would be lost.
As with the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach school systems, Fairhope would be starting much like a new business start-up with many various capital expenditures to fund the school system, including payroll, various equipment and possibly a new school to keep up with the student enrollments.
Fairhope would acquire $35.5 million in debt from the county system, though city officials and the citizens group question that figure because the county uses a pay-as-you-go construction model financed through a countywide sales tax.
Taxation and starting over is something that longtime Fairhope residents may not get on board with while newcomers and the business community may see more advantages than problems.
Only 55% of students in the Fairhope feeder pattern live inside city limits. J. Larry Newton Elementary School would be most affected. Of its 754 students, only 136 live in the city. Under a city system, only 18% of the building would be utilized if limited to city residents.
“I think that is a thing that worries a lot of folks,” Sullivan said. “You will have people that will have to pay to come into our system. Even if you grandfathered them in, they would still have to pay. They would have to pay a fee due to not being within our city limits. Some won’t be able to afford that. What does that look like?”
Other school systems who have broken away from county systems have found that like any business, there are advantages and disadvantages, initial funding being an initial concern. But like the beach community cities here have found out, there are also many freedoms, and a the rewards of controlling your own destiny and that of the school’s students that seem to make the move a win.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
LOXLEY, Ala. The 38th annual strawberry festival is heading back to Loxley April 11-12, 2026.
The free family-friendly annual event features everything from music to hundreds of vendors, antique cars and many different products made with strawberries including delicious strawberry shortcake.
It’s all happening this weekend at Loxley Municipal Park from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Strawberry Festival committee members say this is a fun, family-oriented tradition that raises funds for educational services in Loxley.
Parking is available in numerous locations, and the event provides shuttle services.
DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL. Police have made an arrest after the tragic motor vehicle crash involving a golf cart and a passenger vehicle that injured several people.
Dauphin Island Police and emergency responders were called to the crash on Bienville Boulevard in the 2600 block on Sunday at around 6:30 p.m.
According to a statement from island police, when officers arrived on scene, they discovered a heavily damaged six-seat golf cart that had been rear-ended by a pickup truck and several persons injured including a one-year-old child.
Two victims suffered serious injuries and were taken to local trauma centers, while two other children suffered minor injuries and were transported in precaution, according to authorities.
According to officials, 44-year-old Paul Byrd, Jr. was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and a DUI.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a person who was attempting to sexually exploit children in our community.
On February 2, 2026, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office launched a formal investigation after receiving a cyber tip reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation was conducted jointly with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Through the course of the investigation, Cole Phillips was identified as the primary suspect in multiple cyber offenses targeting underage children.
On March 31, 2026, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cole Phillips on multiple felony charges related to the sexual exploitation of children, following a multi-agency investigation that spanned several months and crossed state lines.
Phillips was taken into custody by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit on outstanding warrants. He has been charged with the following:
– Two (2) counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
– One (1) count of Transmitting Obscene Material to a Child by Computer
A forensic examination of Phillips’ electronic devices yielded evidence of videos and images depicting young boys engaged in sexual acts.
Further investigation revealed that in October 2025, Phillips had been communicating with an undercover officer from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement during a covert online chat operation. The officer was posing as a 14-year-old boy. During the exchange, Phillips transmitted explicit material of himself engaged in a sexual act and solicited similar material in return. This investigation remains active and ongoing. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is actively working to identify additional victims who may have been targeted by Phillips. Anyone with information relevant to this case is requested to contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, alongside its law enforcement partners, remains firmly committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals who exploit children online. Protecting the safety and well-being of children in our community is a top priority. Questions regarding this case can be directed to Captain Correa or Lieutenant Ashton by calling the Criminal Investigations Division at 251-972-8589. Please report any and all suspicious activity to the listed contacts or by calling dispatch at 251-937-0202.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
DAPHNE, Ala. If you live in Daphne or regularly travel the State Highway 181 and County Road corridor, you know how thick travel is and how many accidents occur in that stretch of road almost daily.
Well, now, that area is about to triple its congestion, traffic and the area population.
A project that has been in the works for a while may soon receive final approval from the Daphne City Council on April 6, 2026.
A huge project known as Italian Village, is planned near Highway 181 and County Road 64 and would include a Neighborhood Walmart and luxury apartments and could begin construction by this summer.
Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune says this specific area has been missing a full grocery store, which is something the development is expected to provide on a 35 acre parcel of land that will also include stylish apartments in an Italian-inspired design, which developers say reflects the city’s history.
“It’s going to be heavily landscaped. We have an archway entrance feature leading up into the project off 181. It’s going to be a very neat project,” Vice President of Development for Trotman Company, Charlie Trotman Jr., said.
“It’s going to bring anywhere from 300 to 350 new jobs, not counting construction jobs. It’s bringing tax, sales tax to the city,” said Trotman.
While all of this sounds like it could be a good fit in that area, others who commute through that area already say that the traffic is a nightmare and traffic collisions happen at that intersection more often than one might think.
But the developers say traffic improvements are part of the plan.
“We’re going to add a traffic signal on Highway 64,” Trotman said. “Add an accel and decel lanes on 181 and 64; we’re improving the roundabout at County Road 13 and 64.”
“So we’re doing a lot of things to improve the traffic. I know that’s a big component here to this project,” he continued.
Mayor LeJeune said those improvements were required as part of the process.
LeJeune believes the project will get a green light, add jobs to the area and be a property that will fit into the area.
If approved, construction on the Neighborhood Walmart could begin as early as this summer.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Another new store is slated to move to Fairhope according to a real estate company that brokered the deal.
After more than a year of vacancy, plans for the former Big Lots location in Fairhope have finally been shared.
Herrinton Realty announced Monday, March 30 that Marshalls, a nationally recognized retailer owned by TJ Maxx parent company TJX, would open in the 28,000-square-foot space.
Big Lots closed in Fairhope in February 2025 alongside all 21 of Alabama’s other locations after the corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2024.
Now, according to insiders, Marshalls has picked Fairhope for its second Baldwin County location with Foley being the other location.
Located in the Eastern Shore Village Shopping Center, the large retail property being unoccupied was a concern for local officials.
No opening date has been set.
There are 12 existing Marshalls locations in Alabama and one that will open later this month in Fort Payne.
Mobile — 3250 Airport Blvd.
Foley — 2536 South McKenzie Street
Montgomery — 7689 Eastchase Parkway
Alexander City — 4762 Highway 280
Hoover — 5583 Grove Blvd.
Valley — 3420 20th Avenue
Birmingham — 4614 US-280
Andalusia — 160 Covington Mall Drive
Trussville — 5929 Trussville Crossing Parkway
Oneonta — 66 Market Terrace, South 700
Huntsville — 2750 Carl T. Jones Drive
Madison — 7950 Highway 72 West
Fort Payne (Opening April 23) — 900 Dekalb Plaza Blvd.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Two men, both Romanian nationals who unlawfully entered the United States and then set up a skimming scam to defraud shoppers, has now been sentenced to federal prison for their crimes.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the scheme involved installing electronic “skimmer” devices on grocery store point-of-sale terminals to steal customer card information in Alabama and Mississippi.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson said 24-year-old Denis Adelin Ionescu was sentenced to 46 months in prison, while 33-year-old Ioan Victor Stanciu received a 24-month sentence. Ionescu pleaded guilty to possession of device-making equipment, and Stanciu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.
Court records show the investigation began in March 2025 after a skimming device was discovered at a grocery store in Ozark. Law enforcement identified the two men and additional co-conspirators as part of a broader operation targeting multiple locations.
Authorities said the group installed devices designed to capture credit, debit, and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card information. The stolen data was later used to carry out unauthorized purchases and withdrawals.
Investigators linked the scheme to retail locations across Alabama, including Dothan, Alexander City, Eufaula, Bessemer, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden, Mobile, and Talladega, as well as Gulfport, Mississippi. In total, 23 skimming devices were placed at 12 separate locations.
Federal officials estimated the intended financial loss at nearly $1.8 million, while confirmed fraudulent transactions totaled $50,978.36. The court ordered restitution in that amount.
A third co-conspirator, Marian Catalin Matei, has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service along with the Bessemer Police Department and the Ozark Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. About a week after the city of Fairhope passed an ordinance to allow hemp sales in their city, Mobile has passed a similar local law allowing the sale of consumable hemp products within city limits.
The measure passed unanimously, creating a local approval process for businesses looking to sell hemp products after months of uncertainty tied to new state regulations.
Hemp is in the family of marijuana and does have a small amount of THC but is commonly used to make ropes and for other industrial purposes including some bath products.
Under Alabama law that took effect earlier this year, hemp retailers must meet stricter requirements and receive approval from both the state and their local government before operating. That left many businesses unable to legally sell products while waiting for cities like Mobile to act.
The newly approved ordinance establishes a system that is similar to the alcohol licensing process, requiring businesses to go through the city first before seeking final approval from the state.
Council members say that structure gives them more oversight.
With the ordinance now in place, city officials say applications could begin moving forward soon, potentially allowing some businesses to reopen in the coming weeks.
“It’s going to follow the same process as an ABC license,” councilmember Josh Woods said, adding it allows leaders to review what businesses are coming into their districts on a regular basis.
Councilmember Ben Reynolds said he worries about vacant or subleased storefronts in shopping centers quickly turning into new smoke or hemp shops, and said the ordinance helps the city take a closer look at those locations before approving them. He also emphasized the need to prevent an overconcentration of stores. “We don’t want to see a situation where shops start popping up on every corner,” adding that protections are needed to safeguard the community long-term.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FOLEY, Ala. A tractor trailer had a major fuel leak in Foley on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, after one of the fuel tanks split apart and spilled more the one hundred gallons of diesel fuel onto the ground.
Several emergency agencies, including the Foley and Magnolia Springs Fire Departments responded to the 11,000 block of Grantham Road just after 11 a.m.
Authorities said that when they arrived, fuel was still spilling onto the ground. Efforts were immediately started by fire personnel to both stop the spill and to contain the fuel on the ground.
The Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency was also notified of the incident.
No injuries were reported and the total number of gallons that was spilled is unknown.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. — A Baldwin County Grand Jury has indicted the mother of a baby and a second person in the death of a child.
Tocora Brown and Larry Lawson were both indicted on two counts, each of felony Aggravated Child Abuse.
22-year-old mother and a 30-year-old business owner have been indicted in the death of the mother’s baby in Baldwin County in November 2023.
In November 2023, Foley Police officers and detectives responded to Baldwin Health after it was reported that a baby had been brought there and was deceased.
“Medical staff reported that the child succumbed to a head injury and noted evidence of a previous head injury,” Foley Police say.
During the investigation, police learned that the mother and her children had been living in a retail store’s storage room for unknown period of time.
“The brother was found with severe burns and evidence of a prior head injury,” police say in a release. “He was immediately placed into the care of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) where he remains today.
Police say Brown was an employee of the business where the children were living, while Lawson was the business owner.
Both were arrested earlier this week in Baldwin County by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit and remain in custody.
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