By Rick McCann Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News December 6, 2025
LOXLEY, Ala. A Loxley man was arrested on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, and charged with sex crimes against a child after police said the victim told someone about the alleged crimes which kicked off a two-month long investigation.
Loxley Police arrested 49-year-old Clinton Allen Ryan after an investigation which began in October. That’s when investigators said the child victim came forward and told them about the alleged abuse. Police said the child knew Ryan.
During the investigation, police said that it was clear to them that Ryan had physically and sexually assaulted the child. Police served a searched warrant on Ryan’s home and collected numerous items of evidence which has been preserved said Sgt. Zachary Kuiken with Loxley Police said.
He’s been charges with rape 1st, two counts of sodomy 1st and sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years of age.
Ryan was arrested during a felony traffic stop in town without incident. Bond has been set at $350,000, an amount prosecutor thought appropriate for the crimes he’s accused of.
“For the safety of the community, it’s good to have high bond conditions including the high amount of the bond, the condition that should he make bond, that he would be on GPS house arrest. He can have no contact with the victim. Nor can he have contact with minors,” explained Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney, Kristi Hagood.
Prosecutors said one of the reasons the alleged victim came forward when they did was over a concern for another child who often visited Ryan’s home.
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WASHINTON COUNTY, Ala. A single-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 5:20 a.m. Friday, December 5th, 2025, has claimed the life of a McIntosh man.
William R. Pitts, 51, was fatally injured when the 2008 Cadillac CTS he was driving left the roadway and hit a tree. Pitts was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash occurred on John Johnston Road near Shine Johnston Road, approximately seven miles south of McIntosh, in Washington County.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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MOBILE, AL. Police have arrested a Mobile school student after he was found with a handgun on school property.
School Resource Officers at Williamson High School stationed at the weapon detection system saw a student trying to enter with the gun and then attempted to flee the property.
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Mobile police worked together to apprehend the armed teenager.
The subject was arrested and transported to Strickland Youth Center. The Mobile Police Department will lead the ongoing investigation, but at this time, there is nothing further to release.”
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Orange Beach Ala. Through the years, Nick Saban has owned or partnered with investment groups to purchase businesses and land throughout Alabama, and he has done it again. This time it’s in Orange Beach.
Perdido Beach Resort, one of Alabama’s most recognized hotel properties situated along the Alabama Gulf Coast, has been purchased by Nick Saban, his wife and a group of other investors.
Perdido Hotel Partners, LLC, an affiliate of Aurora Hospitality Partners, Joe Agresti, the Sabans and a select group of Alabama investors, announced the acquisition this week, securing the resort’s future under local stewardship.
Aurora Hospitality Partners issued a press release about the purchase.
For nearly four decades, the Orange Beach property has been a beloved family destination across the Southeast.
The new ownership group says keeping the resort in the hands of Alabamians reinforces its importance to the state’s tourism economy and preserves a Gulf Coast treasure for generations to come.
Aurora Hospitality Partners, the Alabama-based hotel management firm that co-owns the property and will oversee daily operations, emphasized its commitment to honoring the resort’s legacy while elevating the guest experience.
“We could not be more honored to steward a place that means so much to so many families across our state,” said Blair Plott, co-founder of Aurora Hospitality Partners. “It means a great deal to us that Perdido Beach Resort will move forward under the leadership of Alabamians who believe in the future of this community. Our focus is to build on its legacy and elevate the guest experience in a way that reflects the very best of Alabama.”
Perdido Beach Resort opened in 1987 and has remained under the ownership of Alabama businessman Jim Meadlock until now.
The property features 338 rooms, more than 43,000 square feet of event and meeting space and four food and beverage outlets.
As part of its longstanding practice, the resort will close for most of December and will reopen under the care of its new owners on December 30, 2025.
Aurora Hospitality Partners manages hotel properties under Marriott and Hilton brands. Its flagship property, The Alamite in Tuscaloosa — another property co-owned by the Sabans — earned the Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel of the Year award in 2024.
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JOSEPHINE Ala. An overnight structure fire has left behind heavy damage. The 911 call sent the Josephine Volunteer Fire Department to the scene before 1 a.m.
Mutual-aid assistance was requested and the Magnolia Springs and Bon Secour Fire Departments responded. Tanker trucks were needed to supply water because of a lack of fire hydrants in the area.
The fire was brought under control just after 4 a.m. but firefighters remained on scene conducting overhaul operations.
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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FOLEY, Ala. As temperatures dip, many of us look for ways to keep warm. While some of us crank up the thermostats on the wall, others use alternative methods of heating in their homes including wood stoves, fireplaces, electric heaters also called space heaters, kerosine heaters and some use the heat from their ovens.
Many of these heat sources, including some forms of gas heat, can be potentially dangerous and even deadly.
During this time of year, hundreds of people die in house fires while using these alternative methods of keeping warm.
Deaths from “alternative” heat sources (like space heaters, generators, wood stoves) are primarily due to Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning or fires, with hundreds dying annually in the U.S. from CO (500+ hospitalizations/year) and dozens from heating fires (around 332 deaths from space heaters/stoves 2019-2023), but these figures are likely underestimated, while extreme heat itself causes thousands of deaths, often exacerbated by these devices.
Many people turn to space heaters in the colder months, but are space heaters safe?
Space heaters are a winter staple, but they come with risks if used incorrectly. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, heating is one of the leading causes of home fires, and space heaters are a big part of why those fires can spread quickly.
That doesn’t mean you can’t use one safely. It just means they require a little extra attention: keeping them away from anything that can burn, plugging them directly into the wall, and turning them off when you leave the room. When used properly, space heaters can be helpful for boosting warmth without running your whole heating system nonstop. However, space heaters should be at least three feet away from anything flammable, including furniture, curtains, bedding, and walls, to prevent fires. And placing them on a flat, stable, nonflammable surface and plugging them directly into the wall instead of an extension cord will help to lower the risk of using one. Always turn off and unplug the heater when leaving the room or going to bed and you should keep children and pets clear. Space heaters should have automatic shut-off controls when they are tipped over.
Kerosine heaters have been banned in some states due to their dangerous nature. Kerosine heaters have open flames, give off carbon monoxide, a deadly gas and can easily catch fire to items nearby.
Kerosene heaters cause around 90 deaths annually in the U.S. from roughly 2,300 fires, though they are part of a larger category of space heaters causing hundreds of fatalities yearly (around 480-500) due to fires and carbon monoxide. These deaths often stem from flare-ups, improper fuel (like gasoline), lack of ventilation leading to carbon monoxide poisoning, and using heaters too close to flammable materials, especially overnight.
The legality of using kerosene heaters in homes in Alabama is primarily determined by local ordinances, fire codes, and specific usage conditions, rather than a statewide ban. While they are not explicitly banned by state law for all uses, their use is heavily regulated and often discouraged by safety officials due to fire and carbon monoxide risks.
Fire with hot open flames have been used to heat humans almost since the start of time. Wood stoves and fireplaces have been used as a heat source in our homes for hundreds of years. While mostly safe, wood stoves with a glass front have been known to explode because of extensive heat, fireplaces can often cause chimney fires due to the build up of creosote and a lack of maintaining the chimney.
Some area homes are equipped with gas heaters which are very efficient and some users say that the heat is much warmer than electricity which often operates on a heat pump system that circulates the air.
The main dangers of gas heating are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, due to incomplete combustion or leaks, which is a silent, deadly gas; respiratory issues from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other pollutants (like formaldehyde) that worsen asthma; and fire/burn hazards, especially from unvented space heaters or using ovens for heat. These risks increase with poor ventilation and faulty or older appliances, necessitating regular professional checks, CO alarms, and proper venting for all gas units.
Homeowners should have several C02 detectors installed throughout their home.
Electric heat, though often a more expensive heat source is one of the safest methods used in homes and businesses today.
Maintaining all heating devices, following the manufacturers’ safety recommendations, having multiple smoke detectors and being aware of the dangers associated with their use will ultimately make their use much safer.
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MONTGOMERY Ala. Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reported Thursday that ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit, working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has assisted in the detention of 82 individuals identified during Commercial Motor Vehicle inspections since the partnership began just over a month ago.
Nationwide, some big rig drivers are operating a vehicle illegally, cannot read nor speak English and have no driver’s license which puts others at a huge risk of being involved in a collision, injuries or even death.
The operation is part of a coordinated push by lawmakers and law enforcement to crack down on bad actors behind the wheel of a truck on Alabama roads.
ALEA said most detentions occurred during two Strike Force operations focused on high-crash rural interstate corridors. ALEA also reported that about 242 individuals encountered during CMV inspections were referred to ICE for immigration-status checks.
Among those detained, 12 had no driver’s license of any kind, and the rest held out-of-state licenses.
According to the Governor’s Office, ICE personnel have also been integrated into ALEA’s routine commercial vehicle enforcement assignments.
Hal Taylor, Secretary of ALEA, said his agency is dedicated to keeping Alabama’s roads and its citizens safe from anyone operating a commercial vehicle illegally.
“These results reflect the strength of our ongoing partnership with ICE and our collaboration with all federal partners committed to improving highway and public safety,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said.
The enforcement action also coincides with the Alabama Trucking Association’s participation in a nationwide initiative that is quickly earning the full backing of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Authorities working together help to keep our roads and our state safer according to the Governor.
The Trucking Association Executive Council released a plan on Thursday entitled, “The Fight for Fairness and Safety: Paving the Way for a Trucking Resurgence.”
The blueprint argues that fraudulent and illegal operators are exploiting regulatory gaps to undercut law-abiding fleets damage the reputation of professional drivers.
“Alabama’s trucking industry is built on the hard work of family-owned small businesses and professional drivers who follow the rules and operate safely, but a growing number of illegal operators and bad actors who exploit regulatory loopholes are compromising safety and undercutting hard working Alabamians who move our economy,” Alabama Trucking Association CEO, Mark Colson, said.
According to ATA, the plan identifies seven major vulnerabilities that bad actors exploit:
CDL Integrity – Closing loopholes in commercial driver licensing
MCMIS Overhaul – Fixing America’s broken trucking safety data system
Cross-Border Integrity – Assuring workforce integrity at our borders
Non-Domiciled CDL Reform – Strengthening oversight and enforcement
English Language Proficiency – Closing critical CDL safety gaps
Combating Trucking Fraud – Addressing broker and carrier fraud schemes
Electronic Log Integrity – Ending ELD manipulation and hours-of-service fraud
The action plan builds on recent federal actions, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s order strictly enforcing English language proficiency requirements, which resulted in more than 5,000+ drivers being placed out of service for safety violations, and another order cracking down on the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs, many of which were issued improperly or illegally.
On the heels of reporting results from ALEA and ICE’s recent operational success, Governor Ivey said Alabama is leading the way on “going after illegal bad actors in trucking.”
“I’m proud of ALEA for taking decisive action and grateful for our strong partnership with ICE. Alabama will not look the other way while illegal immigration and illegal operators threaten the safety of our communities or undermine the integrity of our trucking industry,” Ivey said.
“If you are here illegally and breaking our laws or putting folks at risk on our highways, you will be held accountable in our state.”
Alabama’s U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, as well as Governor Kay Ivey, are also backing the plan.
“These bad actors are undercutting Alabama small businesses, and I strongly support these commonsense efforts to prioritize the men and women who follow the letter of the law and make our roads safer for everyone,” Britt said.
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DAPHNE, Ala. The annual Daphne Christmas Tree Lighting, which was scheduled for December 4th, is now set for Tuesday, December. 9, due to the inclement weather that has moved into the area.
At 5 p.m., festivities will begin at Daphne City Hall. Following this, the ceremony will take place at 6 p.m.
“The weather forecast for Thursday doesn’t look promising for an outdoor event; therefore, we have made the decision to reschedule it for next week,” says Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune. “We’re excited for a better forecast and a chance for our community to gather together to celebrate the holidays! We hope to see everyone there to join in on all of the fun!
Attendees can expect train rides, crafts, vendors, and even pictures with Santa.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. An ALEA trooper on patrol on Wednesday evening investigated a driving violation at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Upon his investigation of the driver, identified as Amber Lee Longsine, 44, the trooper identified that the driver was under the influence of illegal narcotics.
Subsequently, Longsine was charged with: Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance Possession of Dangerous Drugs Possession of Marijana in the Second Degree Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Currently, Longsine is being held at the Baldwin County Detention Center on a $7500.00 bond.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. Every fire department in Baldwin County has experienced a rise in call volumes, especially in the fastest growing cities. Some departments have gone from a few calls a week to a few calls a day or more.
The majority of Baldwin County continues to receive much of their fire and EMS services from volunteer fire departments, though this is beginning to change with the rapid growth in cities across the county. Some of those volunteer fire departments have beefed up manpower and response times by adding paid staff to cover primary response times primarily during daytime hours and decreasing their response times.
Though the call volumes continue to rise, the types of calls that firefighters are being sent to are also changing.
In 2024 and again in 2025, most dispatched calls came under six categories for Baldwin County and other fire departments nearby. This list shows the areas of the highest volume of calls.
Most of the calls dispatched were:
MEDICAL
MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS
FIRES
RESCUES
MENTAL HEALTH and SUICIDE THREATS
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE/Non-Emergency
Nationwide, firefighters are responding to less fires, primarily because of education and alarm systems, but the volume of medical response has dramatically risen. There is a combination of reasons for this including an aging population, a shift from preventive to emergency healthcare, and fire departments expanding their EMS services. Factors like the cost of healthcare, limited mental health support, and individuals delaying care due to fear of COVID-19 have also contributed to a greater reliance on 911 for medical issues.
Baldwin County fire departments, like those nationwide are struggling to maintain an all-volunteer roster and often depend on “mutual-aid agreements” to cover their calls when no volunteers are available.
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MOBILE, AL. Bullying at schools nationwide has been on the rise for years with some elevating to egregious and vicious attacks leaving students injured and afraid.
Along the Gulf Coast, we have seen a number of these incidents and now an unnamed 17-year-old McGill-Toolen High School student has been indicted on assault charges after an investigation into a civil lawsuit over an alleged bullying incident.
The investigation substantiated that a 15-year-old was assaulted and injured in the incident.
The civil lawsuit states that an upperclassman urinated on a freshman football player while he was taking a shower on at least two occasions. In retaliation, the freshman urinated in a bottle and poured it on the upperclassman while he was taking a shower. Shortly after, the mother who filed the lawsuit said her son was “ambushed” by the upperclassman when he threw an aerosol can of deodorant and hit him in the head. The boy suffered vision loss and a brain injury and had to undergo surgery.
It is unknown how soon after the alleged assault occurred that police were notified.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile, McGill-Toolen High School, and those serving as principal, athletic director and football coach at the time of the incidents are listed as defendants in the lawsuit.
The nine-count lawsuit alleges negligence and other violations of policy and hiring practices.
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. IKEA has chosen Huntsville to plant their first Alabama store. Once that they received the approval to build, construction started almost immediately.
Work on the new IKEA store in Huntsville is among the more than $132 million in new construction in the area in November.
The store will be smaller, with a 46,000-square-foot format, located at the University Place Shopping Center, 6125 University Place Drive.
It will feature a curated selection of products, a planning area, and a Swedish food market as well as an “as-is” section, with both takeaway and delivery services available.
The store is expected to open by mid-2026.
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DAPHNE, Ala. Daphne police are constantly on the lookout for impaired or reckless drivers and make DUI arrests frequently.
One of those recent arrests included Melissa Spriggs, the assistant principal at Belforest Elementary School.
Police stopped Spriggs near Daphne Elementary School in the early morning hours of November 23, 2025, after observing a traffic infraction. After conducting a DUI investigation, the officer determined that she was under the influence and transported her to the Daphne Justice Center for booking.
Spriggs was also arrested for DUI on December 30, 2024.
Officials said Spriggs was sentenced to 12 months of probation for the 2024 arrest and was ordered to attend classes.
Spriggs was serving her probation up until her arrest in November.
She has been placed on administrative leave at the school.
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MOBILE, AL. The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint about a person threatening to kill workers at the Probate Court.
According to law enforcement, 43-year-old Robert Allen Jr. threatened workers on the phone after being told that he could not work at an upcoming runoff election even though he did work at the polls during the general election.
Allen became angry after being told that information and began yelling and threatened to kill several persons.
Allen Jr. is charged with making a terroristic threat.
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IRVINGTON, Ala. An Amtrak train has again collided with a vehicle while making its way through Irvington.
ALEA reported to us that while a pickup truck crossed the tracks, the train collided with the bed of the truck, but no one was injured. This occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and St. Elmo-Irvington Volunteer Fire Department responded to the incident.
ALEA reported that the driver fled the scene on foot and that a passenger remained on scene.
Troopers and county deputies are searching for the driver at this time.
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MOBILE, AL. A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 5:57 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, has claimed the life of a Mount Vernon man. The man has been identified by ALEA as Michael T. Martin, 71, and he was fatally injured when the 2022 Jeep Compass he was driving struck the 2014 Freightliner garbage-truck driven by James F. Burson, 48, of Mobile. Martin was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Neither Burson nor Elijah D. Blackston, 21, of Lucedale, Miss., who was a passenger in the Freightliner, were injured as a result of the crash.
The crash occurred on Alabama 217 near the 23-mile marker, approximately four miles south of Citronelle city limits, in Mobile County. Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate
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A Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy has been awarded $10 million after being attacked by a narcotics detection K-9 during a training exercise in May 2021.
A jury found that Deputy Aimee Jo Brasher suffered injuries and emotional distress from the attack.
The verdict, delivered on Nov. 25, 2025, found Officer David McIntosh, who was employed by the Hueytown Police, liable for the attack by his K9, Rocco.
Evidence presented at trial showed McIntosh repeatedly failed to meet the minimum monthly training requirements for Rocco, as mandated by both Hueytown policy and national standards.
Testimony revealed that weeks before the attack on Brasher, Rocco had attacked a Hueytown jailer, resulting in hospitalization. Following that incident, McIntosh’s superiors ordered him to keep Rocco muzzled around people.
However, on the day of the attack, McIntosh disregarded those orders, allowing Rocco to run uncontrolled and unmuzzled, leading to the attack on Brasher.
The jury reviewed evidence and heard testimony and found more than enough evidence to show that the injuries were a direct failure of the officer’s duties and due care.
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FAIRHOPE, Ala. Over the last few days, we have announced three new businesses that are coming to Fairhope and setting up shops along the busy State Highway 181.
Now, another business, this one headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, is also moving into Fairhope.
Pinnacle Financial Bank plans to open a branch in the downtown area at 300 Magnolia Avenue.
The company is merging with Synovus Bank, effective January 1st according to various media reports.
Pinnacle strives to be the best, and in metric after metric, our clients tell us we are. And we get there by staying true to our origins as a David up against the Goliaths of big banking.”
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CODEN, Ala. A well-known boat builder, Master Boat Builders, Inc. (“Master Boat”) announced on Tuesday that they to build a new $60 million, 150,000 sq ft manufacturing facility dedicated exclusively to government and defense shipbuilding programs.
The boat builder once known for building shrimp boats and other utility vessels has in recent years begun contracting to build national security related vessels.
Master Boat Builders is currently located in Mobile County and the new facility will be located directly across Bayou Coden from the company’s existing yard. According to the company, the new 20 acre site represents a major investment in the Gulf Coast’s role as a hub for U.S. defense shipbuilding and answers President Trump’s call to expand domestic capacity to meet national security needs.
“This new facility is about building more capability here at home,” said Garrett Rice, President, Master Boat Builders. “By dedicating an entire yard to defense programs, we’re creating the capacity and flexibility needed to deliver for all of our customers and supporting the nation’s call for a stronger, more resilient maritime industrial base.”
Master Boat is partnering with Thompson Engineering and RJ Baggett on the design, engineering and construction of the facility. The new facility will feature a state-of-the-art assembly building with approximately 150,000 square feet of covered manufacturing space optimized for serial production, enabling the erection of steel and aluminum ships, as well as efficient fabrication and assembly of complex modules for Navy and Coast Guard programs, including the U.S. Navy’s Landing Craft Utility (LCU) program through Master Boat Builders’ recently announced strategic outsourcing agreement with Austal USA. Master Boat also plans to pursue additional government programs, including the Domestic Icebreaker program for the U.S. Coast Guard.
The site will also include expanded workforce training areas to develop the next generation of Gulf Coast shipbuilders and modern infrastructure to support modular construction techniques.
Work to clear the 20-acre site began last month, with construction of the facility to take approximately 18 to 24 months. While the facility is under construction, LCU modules will be fabricated at Master Boat’s existing facility.
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FAIRHOPE, Ala. A fast-food restaurant is the latest business to seek approval from the city of Fairhope to build near State Highway 181 and State Highway 104.
If approved, Culver’s Restaurant would be built on a parcel that sits in front of the Planters Pointe shopping center.
After an earlier plan was turned down over parking issues, a new site plan for Culver’s is up for approval during the next planning commission meeting.
Culver’s history: “In 1984, Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents George and Ruth, opened the very first Culver’s in the family’s beloved hometown of Sauk City, Wisconsin, and began serving ButterBurgers® and Frozen Custard.
The Culver family knew right away that although the business is centered around food, it is really about the people. While folks can vividly recall the first time, that they bit into a ButterBurger or tasted a scoop of rich, creamy Fresh Frozen Custard, it’s our way of welcoming guests that truly makes Culver’s delicious.”
If Culver gets the go ahead, construction could begin almost immediately.
Culver’s Restaurants currently operate in Mobile, Foley, Orange Beach, and throughout Alabama.
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