DAPHNE, Ala. Since February, residents in Daphne and Spanish Fort have been on high alert for roaming coyotes that are killing their pets and wild animals alike.
One Daphne resident told us in March that her husband watched two coyotes chase down two cats, killing them before carrying them away.
Another area resident reported seeing a coyote play tag with a bunny before killing it and then dragging it away.
During this time, coyotes were more active because it was mating season which typically occurs from January to March. During this time, coyotes are more active, vocal (howling), and may appear more aggressive, especially when protecting their territory or finding mates. This period also overlaps with when female coyotes are pregnant and raising pups, which can further increase their activity and vigilance.
But now in May, pets are still disappearing, and some have been found mutilated and there is evidence coyotes are to blame according to area residents in Daphne.
Coyotes have been known to attack children and adults alike and can be aggressive if you come close to their territory.
Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune said that the problem surfaced last year, but some residents were reluctant to allow trapping on their property but as the problem has persisted, the council has now given approval for setting traps and the trapping will be done by the Wildlife Solutions company. It’s not a permanent solution, but it can help. Until then, he asks Daphne residents “to be vigilant, to watch, look at your surroundings, keep your small animals in. Do the best you can with your cats.
Coyotes have also been seen in Fairhope and in Spanish Fort in recent months and are known to be in many areas of Baldwin County. The city of Mobile has also reported that have been dealing with ongoing issues with the growing coyote population for years.
In Alabama, coyote hunting is legal both day and night on privately owned or leased land with the proper license. There is no closed season or bag limit for coyotes. A special nighttime feral swine and coyote hunting license is required for nighttime hunting on private or leased land. Landowners and their residents or immediate family are exempt from licensing requirements for hunting coyotes on their own property during daylight hours.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GULF SORES, Ala. As with most things in life, there are pros and cons with almost everything. And sometimes we must be willing to give up or do without certain things to receive something that we need more at that time. High-density apartment life is not for everyone and has many drawbacks but they do provide basic shelter, some conveniences, and amenities that are needed for basic survival, and on certain properties, you can even find luxurious living if you’re willing to pay for it. Apartment living can include multiple swimming pools and jacuzzies, fully equipped gyms, lavish clubhouses, and even golf courses! Properties nationwide have also added secured entrances to the property, security technology such as surveillance cameras, security guards, and burglar alarm systems in each unit.
In a nationwide apartment crime survey conducted about three years ago, Baldwin County multi-unit complexes fared much better than many others in the country, scoring a high mark of 74 % when it came to safety and security. And although that’s a high C grade in most school systems, here in the real world, it still shows a lot of room for improvement.
While it is still true that Baldwin County’s crime rate is far below many similar-sized areas, but the fact is that crime, especially violent offenses and those that are drug related, or those that involve property crimes, are rising within the county and elsewhere in the State of Alabama.
Looking at crime statistics for apartments within the county over the past three years, we found that there had been at least eight shootings, including three homicides and four attempted murders. Of those shootings, five have occurred in Daphne including two at the same complex. One happened on Easter Sunday 2024 and it included the murder of one person and the attempted murder of a second person. The second double shooting occurred just thirteen months later on April 29th, 2025, at the same apartment complex, the Audubon Park Apartments at 8160 County Road 64. This double shooting was the result of a drug transaction and three persons have now been arrested and charged with attempted murder and robbery. Other crimes such as vehicle break-ins, trespassing, drug activity, and disturbances have also been reported at this apartment complex.
There was also a fatal shooting that involved an FBI agent in Gulf Shores at an apartment complex in December 2024 while serving warrants on a tenant who was armed.
Robberies and burglaries in apartment complexes were low compared to other larger cities but at least three robberies have been reported including one that was reported at the Fly Creek Apartments located at 300 Fly Creek Ave in Fairhope on Thanksgiving Day in 2024. Fairhope police later arrested three people for that crime.
We also found that there had been at least eight suicide threats, or attempted suicides during the same timeframe including one that had occurred while we were researching these statistics this past week.
Where there is people, there will be differences and sometimes those differences can lead to conflicts, disturbances, or even violence. Calls to police about neighborhood disputes are not uncommon and police often are called in to play referee.
Many of the calls that police respond to at apartment complexes are similar to those responded to at single-family homes and include family disputes, break-ins, or property crimes including thefts and prowling.
In part three of our investigative series, we’ll cover resident rights, property owner’s responsibilities, and how to better protect your family.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY Ala. Alabama has a gang problem. And it’s well known by law enforcement, politicians, and those responsible for keeping the citizens of Alabama safe. The problem isn’t new, but it is growing.
Gulf Coast News and Blue RAM Media have been tracking the violence, drugs and murders that comes with gangs. We’ve written about their increase and how they often put down stakes in small towns who have little to no law enforcement. There, they find solace in knowing that they’re unseen and their activities untracked.
Many states have long had databases chocked full of information on suspected gang members, their activities, associates and crimes and some states even require that convicted gang members register with law enforcement just like sex offenders do.
After years of ignoring the gang problem or maybe hoping that it’ll go away, Alabama legislators have passed a law to establish a similar database.
The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved HB 403, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, at a March 19 meeting. It requires the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to create and manage a database of people that law enforcement identify as part of a criminal enterprise or gang.
“The bill includes rolling out the database after five years of no activity so there is no collection of information that is dated and no longer timely and relevant,” Bedsole said during the committee meeting.
The legislation authorizes ALEA to create and maintain the criminal enterprise database based on information by criminal justice agencies. The database would include information about people that law enforcement agencies believe are engaged in criminal conduct.
Many local law enforcement agencies have been tracking gang activity within their jurisdictions for years, keeping notes and compiling incident reports that involve crimes involving suspected gang members.
Now, in the new state database, people can be designated as part of a criminal enterprise or gang if they meet at least three criteria listed in statute. Some of those conditions include getting identified by an informant or family member, or if suspects admit to being part of a gang.
Other criteria include adopting “the style of dress of a criminal enterprise.” Law enforcement can also label someone as a member of a gang by adopting “the use of a hand sign identified as used by a criminal enterprise,” or if a person has “a tattoo identified as used by a criminal enterprise.”
If a person is known to be affiliated with local, regional or national gangs, the law could also apply.
For years, outspoken groups, family members and even those involved in the criminal justice system have spoken against the injustices of identifying someone as a gang member because of race, dress, tattoos or association with specific groups or people.
The database would not be public, and ALEA may only grant criminal justice agencies access to the information contained in the database. People will be granted access only as part of a court order; for discovery in lawsuits, or if a subpoena is issued.
People convicted of a Class A felony and who are part of a criminal enterprise, face a minimum of 25 years in prison.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
DAPHNE Ala. Apartments are communities within a community and serve many purposes for those seeking a home. Some are there because it’s their first home away from home and they’re just getting their first taste of living under their own roof. Others live in an apartment because they’re saving money to buy their first or their next home. And still others are apartment dwellers because it’s the only home that they can afford at the time.
Recently, a new and growing segment of apartment tenants has become the latest group to move into these micro-communities, making it their final home. Large numbers of seniors are selling their homes and leaving behind lawn care and home maintenance for a place where all of that is done by a property management company at no extra expense to the renter. But sadly, many times, this new group has found that they’ve had to give up their tranquility serenity, and even privacy, for their new life of convenience. And while wealthier seniors move into more posh surroundings that offer group meals, onsite hairstylists, shuttle buses to events, shopping, and doctor appointments, others find themselves in the middle of a new reality, one that is often noisy, sometimes crime-ridden and not the community that they were hoping for.
Apartment complexes come in all sizes, located in an array of locations from low-income, subsidized neighborhoods to some of the most elite addresses in the world. While some have just a few dozen units, many others have hundreds or even thousands of apartments. At one time, a high-rise apartment in New York City was the largest apartment complex in the nation with more than 11,000 apartment units. In some states, the population of that complex would be larger than many towns and come with all the problems that towns have, such as noise, crime, property maintenance headaches, and neighbor issues.
In some areas, apartments are breeding grounds for crimes such as domestic violence, altercations, vehicle and apartment burglaries, drug trafficking and robberies, and occasional homicides. Many complexes provide little to no security and in recent years, have seemingly gone with the motto “security” is the responsibility of the tenant, not the property owners.
In Alabama, the largest apartment complex in the state sits just off Interstate 65 in the southern part of Jefferson County, in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham. This complex, now called the “Park at Hoover”, has gone through numerous renovations, additions, and property ownership, and has just recently sold for more than $100 Million Dollars! With nearly 1100 apartment units, dozens of amenities, numerous pools and clubhouses, and convenience to both Jefferson and Shelby Counties, it’s a very popular home to thousands of people. But, even with 24 hr. on-site security, and management, crime of all type still finds its way onto the property.
In Baldwin County, the largest apartment complexes are in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas with none having more than 350 apartment units. However, many high-rise condominiums along the beachfront boast complexes that have between 220 and 280 condo units with many being rentals with different people coming and going daily or weekly. And, whether it’s an apartment complex or a high-rise condo tower, both property crimes and crimes against persons are rising. A survey revealed that over 25% of multifamily property managers reported a significant increase in crime compared to the previous year. And not just petty crimes like theft or vehicle break-ins, but violent crimes including robberies, assaults, and shootings.
At 2:30 a.m., on March 31, 2024, Easter morning, a shooting at the 10X Audubon Park Apartments located at 8160 County Road 64 in Daphne left one man dead and a second man fighting for his life. Police eventually arrested 24-year-old Kaynen Gurley, for murder and attempted murder. According to the investigation conducted by Daphne police, the shooting was over a gun sale transaction that ended in gunfire. Fast forward just thirteen months later, and another shooting at the same apartment complex has left two persons in critical condition including one who could be left paralyzed. Daphne police responded to shots fired at the 10X Audubon Park Apartments on April 29, 2025, at around 7:40 p.m. and found a sixteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old shot. Both remain hospitalized. A police investigation revealed that it was a drug deal that had gone bad. A 16-year-old has been charged with two counts of robbery while an 18-year-old has been charged with two counts of robbery and attempted murder. A third suspect is at large.
In both shootings at the 10X Audubon Apartments, it was criminal activity and a crime in progress that led to the shootings. Audubon is one of many apartment complexes that does not use security surveillance cameras, or physical security patrol services to detect or prevent crime.
In parts two and three, we’ll look at the reality of apartment life including safety and security, privacy, and tenant rights.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GULF SHORES Ala. There are some subjects that are harder to discuss than others especially in matters of the heart or in life and death. But preparing for the inevitable will often help a loved one know what they should or should not do and what the wishes of their loved one are.
One of these is called a DNR, which is a legal document that an individual has completed and has notarized which discloses what the wishes of the person are in times of certain medical emergencies such as a heart attack or a major injury that is survivable.
This legal document directs medical personnel as to whether they should take all steps to sustain life or not intervene at all.
During a cardiac or respiratory arrest, a DNR becomes a medical order or directive that advises healthcare professionals not to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient. Patients with terminal illnesses, poor prognoses, or those who have made it obvious they want to forgo aggressive life-saving treatments sometimes have DNR orders placed. A DNR order is intended to respect the patient’s wishes and deliver treatment consistent with their beliefs and preferences, emphasizing comfort and quality of life more than procedures that might prolong the patient’s life.
There are certain factors regarding a DNR that your family needs to know:
In many jurisdictions, a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order doesn’t always require notarization, but it’s crucial to check the specific requirements of the state or region where the DNR will be used. While some states might accept witnessed signatures or physician endorsements, others may require notarization for it to be legally binding. To ensure your DNR order is legally sound, it’s best to consult the specific state health department guidelines or seek legal advice to understand the requirements in your area.
A DNR must be physically present during an emergency and be presented to EMS personnel immediately upon their arrival. If it is not available, EMS has a duty to sustain life and to take all efforts to do so. A verbal confirmation by a family member is usually not sufficient in most states.
Some families have included a Living Will to provide guidance and binding directives that especially cover end-of-life medical emergencies and illness.
The key difference between a living will and DNR, comes down to what’s included in the documentation. A DNR carries the specific and sole purpose of informing medical care providers about whether or not the person wishes to be resuscitated.
A Living Will, in contrast, is a legal document that covers a wide range of specifications around end-of-life care and planning. For instance, you can give instructions about treatments you wish or do not wish to receive if you become terminally ill or vegetative. You can also express in what conditions any treatments should be stopped. Living Wills go into effect when you become incapacitated and are unable to communicate your wishes.
Absolutely anyone can benefit from a Living Will, no matter their stage in life. It can provide peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, your wishes for medical care would be known.
These are uncomfortable conversations to have but they are necessary. Having these documents in place can give a loved one clarity and peace of mind, instead of second guessing themselves and having feelings of guilt.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
UPDATE: Orange Beach Police Lt. Johnson answered our questions on Monday and stated that the city already has four license plate readers in use at undisclosed locations. OBPD will be adding 12-14 more ALPRs. Data from the ALPRs is deleted every thirty days. The APLRs will be used to deter crime and to alert police when it scans a license plate that comes back to a stolen vehicle or wanted person.
ORANGE BEACH Ala. The City of Orange Beach recently applied for and received a special grant from Governor Ivey’s office for special funds to provide police equipment.
The city was among more than a dozen other law enforcement agencies in Alabama that received grants to replace or add equipment such as body armor, body-worn cameras, and in Orange Beach, “Automatic License PlateReaders”.
We have been told that the “ALPRs” will be positioned at the entrance and exit areas of the city which will assist police to solve crimes and possibly even prevent crimes.
The way that a License Plate Reader works is as a vehicle passes the camera, it takes a photo of the vehicle’s license plate and scans it through multiple databases to see if the vehicle is stolen, or has been used in a recent crime. It also runs the owner of the vehicle through the national databases to see if the person is currently wanted for crimes, has outstanding arrest warrants, or is reported as a missing or endangered person.
Nationwide, the use of both stationary and police vehicle plate readers has solved thousands of crimes and assisted in the capture of countless wanted fugitives including murderers, kidnappers, and the worse of the worse, as well as the recovery of thousands of stolen vehicles.
License Plate Readers are one of many tools used by today’s law enforcement to prevent and solve crimes.
Concerns of citizens about these tools include issues of privacy.
Anyone can take a picture of another person, building, item, or property in public. While in a public space, there is no legal expectation of privacy. However, law enforcement does have a responsibility to not use such tools in a manner that would be unconstitutional or an invasion of privacy and there are strict guidelines in most states for the use of any License Plate Reader system.
Another concern that many have had in other areas is the length of time that the data is stored.
The retention period for LPR data varies by state and jurisdiction. Some states have specific legislation dictating how long LPR data can be retained, while others have no specific limit. For example, California requires agencies to implement policies that protect data privacy and limit data retention periods. In Utah, laws require that the police delete license plate data nine months after collection. In Alabama, police may retain LPR data for no more than five years.
At this time, we have contacted Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon and Police Chief Steve Brown for clarity on the use of the License Plate Readers and the length of time that the data will be stored.
A follow-up to our news story will be published upon receiving that information.
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
For years, passenger jets have streamed across the Alabama Gulf Coast at about 30,000 feet up, out of view and unheard, as they traveled east to west or south to north. For the most part, they were invisible and not part of the normal daily sightings in the skies over Baldwin County. Of course, we do see those relentless banner planes during the tourist months, smaller general aviation planes flying through the airspace heading to or from one of our small airports in the area.
Over the Gulf waters, we also often see US Coast Guard helicopters, an occasional Navy plane or two flying to or from their base in Florida, and of course, the Blue Angeles practicing across our skies.
To our west sits the Mobile Regional Airport, a public/military airport that sits about thirteen miles outside of the city limits, and most of their patterns fly east to west or north to south and we seldom see any airline traffic over the beachfront from the mobile Airport but that’s all about to change.
In August 2020 it was announced that the Mobile Airport Authority would shift commercial airline flights to the more convenient Mobile Downtown Airport, now renamed Mobile International Airport located at 2455 Michigan Avenue, near the Port of Alabama and just blocks away from the heart of Mobile and is expected to open before the end of this year. The new airport will expand to 12 gates, which means more flights, day and night, crisscrossing our skies.
Depending on flight patterns, runway logistics, and weather, planes flying into and out of the Mobile International Airport could be routed over Baldwin County and even along the beaches daily or just every once in a while.
And let’s not forget about the Pensacola International Airport which has also ramped up flight offerings and jets flying in and out of that airport which is just fifty miles away, can also at times be seen flying across the Baldwin County airspace.
For many, including myself, having commercial airports within a short driving distance is more than a convenience, it’s a necessity for work travel.
However, now that three International airports will be positioned at the west, east, and center of Baldwin County, one must consider the drawbacks that these airports will bring. Besides air and noise pollution, the aesthetics could be a drawback. Not every person relaxing on the beaches will be overjoyed to see jet planes streaking across the skies every few minutes or even every few hours. If their flight patterns take them over Baldwin County routinely, in some areas it could decrease property values and cause people to move out of the area and even out of the county.
In areas like Nashville, Charlotte, and Atlanta, expansions of airports or the building of additional runways have caused property values to decrease by 15-30 percent, and in some cases, houses had to be sold to the airport authority for demolition.
In part three, we have more on planned air traffic patterns and the emergencies that occur in the sky and on the ground.
The Gulf Shores Police Department is warning residents of a recent scam that threatens people about being arrested for missing a Grand Jury session.
Police said on Monday they’ve received multiple reports of someone calling residents claiming they are with the police department and notifying residents that they’ve missed Grand Jury and must pay a fine or be arrested.
GSPD officials said in a recent social media post that they will not call residents to notify them of this.
According to the post, the scammer uses a “spoofed phone number,” so they don’t appear to live in the area.
The scammer is also using the names of Gulf Shores police officers, according to the post.
This scam is perpetrated across the country and often ends with people sending money to the callers.
The Gulf Shores Police say, “It’s a scam,”! “Just hang up!”
Copyright 2025 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
For the first time in the history of Baldwin County Alabama, large passenger planes will be crisscrossing our skies and descending upon the Gulf Coast at least a dozen times a day during the inaugural months of the new Gulf Shores International Airport.
The new airport initially will be offering flights to six destinations from one airline provider but officials with the airport say a second airline will be added in the upcoming months increasing both the designations and the frequency of flights from the new airport.
It’s both an exciting time for the area and a time for pause.
Everywhere that you turn, you can easily see the substantial growth in Baldwin County and it’s predicted that the area will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Great news for some, not so much for others.
The State of Alabama currently has six commercial airports and seventy-two general aviation airports, including five in Baldwin County.
The Jack Edwards Airport was originally an outlying field (Canal Field) for Naval Air Station Pensacola. The U.S. Navy sold it to the state of Alabama in 1977 and the new airport was named for U.S. Rep. Jack Edwards. In 1983 the state sold the airport to the city of Gulf Shores to be used for general aviation. A new terminal was built in 1998 and a runway extension was completed in 2003 allowing corporate jets to be able to land and take off from the airport. And while smaller general aviation planes have been flying in and out of the airport for years, their footprint on the area has been minimal and that includes their noise pollution. And, general aviation mainly flies during the day, allowing residents to sleep peacefully at night.
Having a commercial airport in our community is indeed exciting, especially for business travelers who regularly travel to Mobile or Pensacola to board a plane. And, the new airport will no doubt boost tourism, bring in more visitors, and will ultimately provide additional revenue for the county.
All of this sounds great and will be a great asset to residents and visitors but with growth and nuance comes considerations and often include a give and take that frequently affects those who do not have a voice.
Commercial planes are loud, give off heavy air pollution, and fly low during landings and take-offs. A commercial plane may have to circle an airport once, twice, or even three times while it waits for the runway to be available, especially at a smaller, airport. They also fly low during certain weather conditions.
The bottom line is that the airspace above Baldwin County is going to change and in time, with the addition of more airline providers, air traffic will become noisier and planes will be flying in and out of the airport day and night. The landing pattern at the new Gulf Shores International Airport will take these planes over the beautiful beaches and across the communities along State Highway 181, State Highway 59, Baldwin Beach Express, and other communities surrounding a large swath or area in Baldwin County.
Part Two-Baldwin County Lies in the Middle of Airline Growth
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