BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at approximately 7:40 p.m., a multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate 65 left multiple people injured and there were also reportedly at least three fatalities.
The wreck involved a wrong-way driver who collided head-on into multiple vehicles near exit 38.
Fire departments from Rabun and Stockton, numerous ambulances and both the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and ALEA responded to the scene.
Some of the injured were taken to the USA Medical Center for treatment.
Currently, ALEA troopers are continuing their investigation into the collision.
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FAIRHOPE, Ala. Suicides often spike between Thanksgiving and New Year’s as many suffer from chronic depression, drug addiction and the holiday blues. But nationwide, in the United States, suicide rates have generally been increasing over the long term since 2000, reaching a record number of deaths in 2023. And here along the Gulf Coast, including Baldwin County, that fact is unfortunately true.
Over 49,000 people died by suicide nationwide in 2023.
Annually, Baldwin County first responders respond to dozens of suicide threats, attempts and suicides themselves. They’re not talked about, they don’t get reported in the media and even local authorities and local leaders don’t bring the issue to light within their community. Some say it should remain private and hidden from view but mental health professionals say that’s the worst thing that you can.
Educate, support and community is an important aspect of suicide prevention Larry Dawes, a mental health practitioner in Georgia.
In recent weeks, we reported the news of several suicides that have occurred in Baldwin County including several murder-suicides.
Data from the Baldwin County Coroner’s office shows an increase in suicides in Fairhope from six last year to 11 in the first nine months of 2025. Neighboring Silverhill also saw an increase from one last year to four in the first nine months of this year.
Alabama ranks among the worst states in the nation for mental health care access. According to Mental Health America, Alabama ranks 49th due to higher prevalence of mental illness and lower access to care.
While mental health resources do exist in our community, they are limited and often unavailable to people with no healthcare or financial means to pay for care. Though some programs do offer sliding scale payments or in some cases, no cost assistance,
When a person calls 911 threatening to commit suicide, in most areas, including Baldwin County, the local fire department (paid and volunteers), an ambulance and local law enforcement are dispatched to the location. Responders only enter a residence or business after law enforcement has arrived and ensure that the scene is safe for the other responders. Only a small number of emergency responders have mental health training or certification and in most cases, the person is transported to an area hospital for an evaluation.
As Baldwin County and the entire Gulf Coast region continues to grow, so does the need for more resources for it’s residents.
Anyone can call the suicide line anonymously at 988 or contact 911.
MOBILE, Ala. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and its state troopers delivered some holiday cheer recently at a local children’s hospital.
The troopers stopped by and delivered some Trooper Teddy Bears to children receiving care at the hospital and put smiles on many of their faces.
The Trooper Teddy Bear program is a longstanding initiative supported by the Alabama State Trooper Association. Every state trooper on the road is equipped with a teddy bear to offer comfort to children who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events, including automobile accidents.
Troopers also make it a priority to spread the holiday cheer to the children during the Christmas season. The effort underscores ALEA’s commitment to kindness, reassurance and community presence, particularly during times when children and families may be facing added emotional stress.
The troopers who participated were from the Mobile and Grove Hill districts.
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MOBILE, AL. Mobile police were involved in a pursuit over the weekend that ended with one fatality.
According to MPD, officers on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at around 8 p.m., officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Government Street, but the subject led officers on a pursuit.
The vehicle crashed into a tree near the 100 block of Fulton Street.
Mobile Fire-Rescue were called to the scene but the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. He has been identified as Jason Sims, 52. A female passenger was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment of her injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further investigation will be released at this time.
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BALDWIN COUNTY Ala. A two-vehicle crash that involved a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle on Sunday has claimed a life.
The crash occurred on U.S. 90 near the 68-mile marker, approximately six miles east of the Robertsdale city limits at approximately 9:14 a.m. on December 21, 2025.
Dana P. Wetherbee, 62, of Robertsdale, was fatally injured when the 2011 Harley-Davidson Glide Ultra motorcycle he was operating collided head-on with the 2017 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Richard B. Huelsbeck, 67, of Cantonment, Fla. Wetherbee was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Multiple fire department, EMS and law enforcement including ALEA troopers responded to the scene.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate
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SEMMES Ala. A multi-vehicle crash involving an on-duty Semmes Police Officer occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2025.
According to ALEA, the crash occurred when the 2009 GMC Sierra driven by Phillip B. Edens, 43, of Chunchula, struck the 2022 Ford Explorer driven by the Officer, Willie J. Law, 42, of Semmes.
After the initial collision, the Ford struck a 2007 Cadillac Escalade driven by Maria M. Qualls, 38, of Wilmer.
Law was injured and transported to Mobile Infirmary in Saraland for treatment. Edens and Qualls were not injured in the crash.
The crash occurred on U.S. 98 near the 10-mile marker, in Mobile County.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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FAIRHOPE, Ala. From time to time, manatees, also called “sea cows” make their way further north out of Florida and into the Alabama Gulf Coast region. We’ve seen them in years past in the Mobile Bay, the Theordore Industrial Channel and beyond seeking warmer waters with plentiful food sources.
And once again this year, a manatee was spotted in the area of Fly Creek in Fairhope.
These unique animals are docile and fun to watch but being this far north at this time of year can also pose a problem for these large warm-blooded creatures.
Several have had to be rescued in our area in recent years said Ruth Carmichael, a senior marine scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and professor of marine and environmental sciences at the University of South Alabama.
“They don’t do very well when the water temperatures are below about 68 degrees Fahrenheit. And our water temperatures have recently dropped below that,” Dauphin Island Sea Lab Senior Marine Scientist Ruth Carmichael said. Colder water stresses them and increases the potential for manatees to become stuck and unable to move on.
When the manatee was spotted in the marina on Wednesday, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab was called to come check on the animal.
“The animal does look like it’s in pretty bad shape,” Carmichael said. “We are definitely making it a priority for a rescue if the animal settles down into a single location that would allow that to be possible.”
If someone spots a manatee during this time of year, it’s important to stay your distance and contact authorities. There is a toll free number or someone can also call local law enforcement who will then contact the proper authorities. You can also call the Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network Hotline a call if anyone sees this manatee or any others in the area. The phone number to call is 866-493-5803.
It appears that the manatee at in the Fly Creek area has moved on and didn’t need human intervention.
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UPDATE: The suspect has been identified as Chris James John Allen Carter. He crashed his vehicle into the Blackwater Creek during the pursuit.
ROBERTSDALE, Ala. Police attempting to make a traffic stop for a moving violation found themselves engaging in a pursuit that did not end well for the driver.
Once police activated their emergency equipment, the driver sped off. Several law enforcement agencies chased the suspect who eventually crashed off on County Road 48 at around 12:40 a.m. The vehicle left the roadway and landed into a body of water.
Robertsdale Fire and EMS were dispatched to the scene.
Police searched the area and eventually called the Daphne Search and Rescue to assist in searching the pond.
The suspect was eventually taken into custody at around 3 a.m. Law enforcement said that he already had outstanding warrants and now will face additional charges including attempting to elude law enforcement.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. A multi-vehicle collision on the Bayway Thursday morning closed I-10 in the Spanish Fort area after one of the vehicles caught fire and spread rapidly, with heavy flames coming from the vehicle.
One driver was injured, complaining of back and neck injuries according to the Spanish Fort Fire Department.
The crash occurred at around 9:50 a.m. and involved a bucket truck and a passenger vehicle. Baldwin County 911 Communications dispatched the Spanish Fort Fire Department/EMS and ALEA to the scene.
The roadway remained completely closed down for almost an hour as firefighters worked to extinguish the vehicle fire, and EMS treated a patient.
ALEA continues to investigate this wreck.
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Dauphin Island leaders have successfully passed ordinances that strictly prohibit the feeding of wildlife and anyone who violates this new law could face harsh penalties including hefty fines of up to $500 and even jail time.
After months of debate, Dauphin Island town council members passed the controversial ordinance on Monday that makes feeding any wild animal illegal, though some say enforcement of the ordinance may be difficult.
The new ordinance applies to the entire island, not just the west end nature preserve where a long-running fox management dispute previously sparked a lawsuit.
“It came up mainly because of the issues we were having in the far west end. The conservation management plan that we reviewed and found out that we needed to have a no feed ordinance, at least in that part of the island, and then as we got to talking about it as a council we actually looked at doing it island wide which is ultimately what we did,” said Mayor Jeff Collier.
Visitors like Judy Thompason say that this ordinance may prevent some tourists from crossing the bridge because many love feeding all of the beautiful wildlife, like herself who has done so for years.
Some residents say the ordinance goes too far, especially when it comes to animals like cats and seagulls.
However, in other areas of Baldwin County, including the tourist town of Fairhope, similar ordinances have been in place for years. Ordinance O-1598, making it illegal to intentionally or negligently feed wildlife, especially waterfowl (ducks, geese), to protect public health and the environment; signs are posted in key areas like the beachfront, and enforcement with tickets began in 2019, with penalties for offenders. This ban aims to prevent animals from becoming human-dependent and aggressive, creating nuisance issues.
It is not clear how Dauphin Island law enforcement will determine intent on feeding wildlife versus domestic animals. The ordinance does list exceptions, such as bird feeders and activities conducted by state and federal agencies.
Some locals and visitors have also wondered if they’ll be a period where just warnings will be issued.
“Obviously there will probably be a learning curve as it is with any new regulation. But I think our law enforcement agency will be able to discern that. That’ll be up to them, no different than when they’re out doing speed limit checks and things of that nature,” Collier said.
Town leaders say the goal is not punishment but prevention. They say enforcement will focus on education first, especially for visitors.
“Even though it’s sort of human nature to want to feed wildlife, studies show it does a disservice to the animals,” Collier said.
Fox trapping on Dauphin Island is actively happening also and continues to be very controversial, as the town works with federal agencies (APHIS) to remove foxes from the west end to protect endangered sea turtles and birds, using trapping as part of a broader plan after other methods failed, though residents debate humane treatment, and more threats of more lawsuits to come.
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ROBERTSDALE, Ala. Captain Daniel Steelman, who has worked in law enforcement for twenty-three years and is currently employed with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, will have a new position starting next week.
Captain Steelman will become the Chief of Police in Robertsdale after being appointed during Monday’s city council meeting.
Mayor Ruthie Campbell said that Steelman will assume his new position on December 22.
“We are very excited to have Daniel Steelman as our incoming chief,” Campbell said.
Retired police chief Bradley Kenrick left the department after 36 years, 23 of those years as chief. Campbell said Kendrick had become a staple in the community and will be missed.
“He has lived here virtually all his life,” said Campbell. “He went to Robertsdale, graduated from Robertsdale High School and has been an officer for nearly 37 years. He was a wonderful chief.”
Robertsdale is a growing community and Steelman’s experience and connection to the community will certainly be key to our growth as an agency.
Campbell said she hopes to see public safety in Robertsdale continue to foster a relationship with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. She said that Chief Steelman will restructure the department to increase visible patrols.
“The new shine that’s going to come into the police department will spread patrols out more evenly and continue to make it more of a public safety area than we ever could have thought of,” Campbell added.
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Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler has named Dana Bottoms as the founding principal of Jubilee Elementary School, a new elementary school currently under construction in Daphne.
The school’s name, Jubilee Elementary, celebrates Daphne’s long-standing identity as the “Jubilee City,” a reference to the natural phenomenon unique to the area and the strong sense of community the city represents.
Bottoms currently serves as principal of W.J. Carroll Intermediate School, a position she has held since 2005. She brings more than 30 years of experience in Baldwin County Public Schools and a strong commitment to student-centered leadership, academic excellence and positive school culture.
Bottoms began her career in education in 1994 as a classroom teacher at Elizabeth Fonde Elementary School. From 1997 to 2004, she taught at Daphne Intermediate School, now W.J. Carroll Intermediate School. She later served as assistant principal of Perdido Elementary/Middle School from 2004 to 2005 before being named principal of W.J. Carroll Intermediate School.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of South Alabama. She also earned a K-12 educational administrator leadership certificate from the University of South Alabama.
“I am truly honored to be selected as the principal of Jubilee Elementary,” Bottoms said. “The opportunity to open a new school in the Jubilee City and build a strong culture focused on students, families and community from the very beginning is incredibly exciting.”
Jubilee Elementary will open its doors to students in the fall of 2026. The school is one of several new construction projects funded through the Pay As You Go program, a funding model unique to Baldwin County Public Schools. In addition to Jubilee Elementary, Loxley Elementary and Elberta Middle School are currently under construction, along with numerous additions and upgrades taking place across the county.
Outside of school, Bottoms enjoys fitness, outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends. She is married to Curtis Bottoms and the proud mother of Gabrielle Mott and Garland Horst.
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DAPHNE, Ala. A shoplifting quickly turned into a wild police pursuit from Daphne across the Bayway into Mobile County at speeds at times around 120 mph.
Police said that a Prichard woman is in custody on felony charges after stealing wine and lamb chops from a grocery store and then fleeing from police officers who attempted to arrest her.
Jalea Washington, 22, was arrested following the chase, after Daphne police say she stole items from a Publix store and then fled officers at dangerous speeds.
The chase began at the Publix in Daphne and ended near the Cochrane-Africatown Bridge after Washington hit another vehicle on Highway 98 and slammed into a retaining wall.
Police recovered 28 bottles of stolen wine and three packages of lamb chops from Washington’s vehicle after the crash. The stolen items have been returned to the store.
“At one time she was over 120 on the interstate,” said Captain Reginald Artis of the Daphne Police Department.
“It’s not uncommon for Mobile residents to come over and try to victimize our businesses and every chance we get we make them as unwelcome as we possibly can,” Artis said.
Washington is no stranger to the criminal justice system, having been arrested numerous times. In fact, in one of those arrests, Washington was accused of stealing alcohol. She has also been indicted on organized retail theft charges after being arrested in February in Mobile for allegedly stealing 49 bottles of wine worth more than $3,000 over nine days from a Target store.
Washington also has outstanding felony theft warrants from Bay Minette, according to records.
Daphne police charged WashinGton with Fleeing or attempting to flee law enforcement and Theft 3rd degree.
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GULF SHORES, Ala. Several of our area police departments have recently reported making felony drug arrests in recent days. Some of the arrests were the result of conducting traffic stops for moving violations.
Those recently arrested include:
DEMARKIS DONTA ADAMS, 46, was charged with Possession of Cocaine with the intent to Sell/Distribute and Drug Trafficking Bond: $100,000.00 (Surety Bond)
ALEXANDRIA MAY BURGESS, 19, was charged with Possession of Synthetic Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia Bond: $500.00 (Surety Bond)
LAUREN BROOKE PHIPPS, 35 has been charged with Sales or Possession of Unlawful Hemp Products, Possession of Synthetic Narcotics Bond: $10,000
These people were arrested by the Gulf Shores police.
JENNIFER RENE HAMMONDS 52 has been charged with Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense Bond: $11,500 The arrest was made by the Orange Beach police.
ERIK SCOTT MEYER, 50 was arrested by the Orange Beach police for Driving under the Influence, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense Bond: $6500
JERMAINE MICHAEL MABON, 52, has been arrested for fleeing from police as well as Possession Of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Marijuana, Obstructing Police- Attempting to Elude Police and Resisting Arrest. Bond: $12,000
TRACY LYNN MCGHEE, 52 was arrested by the Fairhope Police Department on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession Of Dangerous Drugs, Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense Bond: $10,500
JAMES STEPHEN SARTAIN, 28, has been arrested by the Bay Minette police on charges of Drug Trafficking, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense. Bond: $106,500
LAUREN TEEL STRUBE, 39, has been arrested by the Daphne police after leaving the scene of a traffic collision involving personal injuries. Charges include: Traffic-Leaving the Scene of an Accident – Death or Personal Injury, Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense Bond: $15,500
All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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FAIRHOPE, Ala. Another “Swatting” Incident occurred in our area on Monday. The Fairhope police received a call about an active shooter inside the Walmart Store located at County Road 48 and State Highway 181.
Law enforcement responded to the area and cleared the store.
After a thorough investigation, police found that there were no active shooters and no threat to the public.
The store was allowed to continue their business.
Police are investigating this incident and if the person who made the false call is identified, criminal charges could be forthcoming.
At this time there is no indication that this incident was related to a similar incident in the Whitehouse Forks area that occurred last week where a person called 911 saying that they had shot their father after being abused.
“Swatting” refers to the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.
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ORANGE BEACH, Ala. It’s bright yellow and looks like a small rocket, but actually, it’s the latest technology that the Orange Beach Fire-Rescue Department has added to their arsenal of search and rescue gear.
This high-tech sonar unit which includes side-scan and sector scanning sonars have been provided through a partnership with JW Fishers Mfg.
This modern gear allows rescuers to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) operations directly from the surface, offering a clear view of the underwater environment without the immediate need to deploy divers. By using the sonar to map the water’s bottom and identify objects in dark or murky conditions, the team can pinpoint specific locations before entering the water. This strategic approach significantly reduces the time divers spend in hazardous environments, minimizing unnecessary risks and enhancing the safety of the entire crew.
Some of the OBFR crew gathered recently for some hands-on training with the equipment and loved the gear. Training is the key as with all equipment and the team will continue practicing with it to become more familiar with its operations. They spent the day learning to interpret the shadows and shapes on the sonar screens to ensure they are expert-ready for real-world emergencies.
The department expressed deep gratitude to the Mayor and City Council for their support in acquiring the equipment. By investing in these tools, the city has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of both locals and tourists, ensuring that Orange Beach’s first responders are better prepared than ever to save lives.
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CALERA, Ala. State and federal authorities are investigating after the death of a Mountain Brook man was killed in a train derailment on Saturday.
Emergency 911 calls notified authorities that there had been a CSX train derailment in Calera at a railroad crossing on County Road 22.
Calera Police Department, EMS and Calera Fire responded to the train derailment
Sadly, the Shelby County Coroner said a CSX employee, identified as 52-year-old Charles Harrison was killed in the wreck.
Authorities said the railroad crossing will be closed for an undetermined amount of time while the investigation and cleanup are ongoing. The investigation is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. Porch Pirates Beware! Stealing any package from someone’s property is now a FELONY in Alabama!
Thanks to a new law passed by State Sen. April Weaver (R-Brierfield) during the 2025 legislative session, that crime is now a felony offense punishable by stiff prison sentences and high fines.
It may not stop everyone from being a thief, but it should cause them pause, and maybe they’ll think twice!
“The Grinch may have stolen Christmas in Whoville, but if he does it in Alabama, he’ll have plenty of time in state prison for his heart to grow three sizes,” Weaver said.
“And if anyone accepts a stolen package from a porch pirate under our new law, both of them will get to wear a festive pair of shiny handcuffs during Christmas.”
Alabama is not alone in increasing the penalties for these types of crimes. Now instead of a little misdemeanor, it’s a felony with serious consequences.
With passage of Weaver’s bill, Alabama became the twelfth state in the nation to approve a law specifically targeting the porch piracy practice and joined Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
A nationwide study released earlier this month noted that porch pirates stole more than 104 million packages during 2025, which equates to about 250,000 packages stolen every day and represents $15 billion in estimated losses to consumers and $22 billion to retailers.
More than one in three Americans had a package stolen in 2025 and 75% had more than one package taken. The average value of a package stolen by a porch pirate is $143.
Most of the stolen packages, almost a third, were delivered by Amazon with UPS, the U.S. Post Service, and FedEx following in descending order.
“With more and more homes and neighborhoods linked with video doorbells and other high-tech surveillance measures, even the boneheaded burglars from ‘Home Alone’ would think twice before stealing a package under Alabama’s tough new porch piracy law,” Weaver added.
According to the new law that went into effect on October 1, stealing a package, letter, or other item delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service now results in:
A Class A misdemeanor, the highest and most serious level of misdemeanor, punishable by a year in prison and a fine of up to $6,000 if taken from one to nine addresses. Receiving a known porch pirated or stolen package is also a Class A misdemeanor.
A Class D felony punishable by one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500 if taken from 10 to 29 addresses.
A Class C felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500 if taken from 30 or more addresses.
An upcharge to a Class C or Class B felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000 if packages or mail are taken with the intent of stealing personal information or defrauding the addressee.
In certain cases where a person has entered an outbuilding, garage or enclosed area, an additional charge of burglary could be added.
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FOLEY, Ala. Multiple law enforcement agencies working together during the last 24-hours has led to the capture of a person wanted for a shooting that occurred in Foley.
According to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, as law enforcement worked together to track down, locate and arrest the suspect in the shooting, identified as James Fitzgerald Everette, they were able to track the fugitive to an address in Mobile County.
Once the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office received information on the location of the suspect, the SWAT unit surround the residence located at 15931 Dauphin Island Parkway where Everette barricaded himself inside.
After a brief standoff, Everette was arrested and taken into custody and transported to the Foley Police Department.
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