Service held for retired City Administrator Perry Wilbourne
FOLEY – A. Perry Wilbourne, who served as Foley city administrator for 18 years and who established the city’s antique rose trail, died Thursday, Feb. 1. He was 82. Wilbourne was city administrator from 1993 until his retirement in 2011. Mayor Ralph Hellmich, who was a City Council member when Wilbourne was administrator, said Wilbourne set an example of good leadership that is still followed today that is still being followed by officials such as his successor, current Administrator Mike Thompson.. “Perry was a great guy,” Hellmich said. “He was very honorable, helped [...]
Foley plans two Michigan Avenue traffic circles
FOLEY – Traffic circles will replace stop signs at two Foley intersections on Michigan Avenue under plans approved by the City Council. The council voted Monday, Feb. 5, to approve a professional services proposal from Thompson Engineering to design traffic circles at the intersections of East Michigan Avenue and Juniper Street and West Michigan Avenue and Cedar Street. A study by Thompson found that traffic circles would be the best way to relieve congestion at the intersections. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said roundabouts would be cheaper than traffic lights at the sites. “It was [...]
Volunteers monitoring water quality for 25 years
FOLEY – Citizen volunteers collecting thousands of samples along Foley area streams have provided water quality data for South Baldwin County and Alabama for 25 years. Since 1998, members of the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch have collected data from more than 80 sites around Wolf Bay and other waterways, Jackie McGonigal, one of the program coordinators, said. At a recent Watershed Watch meeting, McGonigal, who is also Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center coordinator, said the data gathered by volunteer monitors allows scientists to keep track of changes as the region develops. [...]
Sidewalk projects on Foley City Council agenda
FOLEY – The city of Foley is moving ahead with the first two projects planned as part of $1 million in new sidewalk construction in the upcoming year. The Foley City Council is scheduled to vote Monday, Feb. 5 to start design work on projects to add sidewalks from East Verbena Avenue to Centennial Bank and along North Cedar Street to West Peachtree Avenue. The plans are on the agenda for the regular council meeting and work session that begins at 4 p.m. at Foley City Hall. The Verbena Avenue project is intended [...]
Environmental resilience projects working to protect Foley
FOLEY – Before the next hurricane, flood or other situation, Foley is preparing to deal with environmental challenges. Leslie Gahagan, Foley environmental director, said Foley has been working on resilience projects in order to be ready for emergencies before they occur. She spoke with members of the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch at the group’s annual meeting on Jan. 27. She said Foley has always prepared plans to deal with storms, but as the city grows and weather events become potentially more extreme, those efforts are being expanded. “We're not just seeing those standard [...]
Friends of Foley Library to hold annual book sale
FOLEY – Book collectors and other literary fans will have a chance to add to their reading stacks when the Friends of the Foley Public Library holds its annual Book Sale on Feb. 8, 9 and 10 at the Foley Civic Center. The main sale event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 10. On Saturday, participants can fill a Tanger shopping bag for $5. Admission is free and open to the public. The friends will also hold a [...]
Foley National Guard unit holds 20-year Iraq reunion
FOLEY – Foley National Guard veterans reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their deployment to Iraq and safe return. Members of Company C of the 711th Signal Battalion met Saturday, Jan. 28 at the National Guard armory in Foley to mark the anniversary of their deployment. The city of Foley was a sponsor of the event. The unit, which is based in Foley, was called to active service in January 2004 and returned from Iraq in February 2005. Teddy Taylor was C Company first sergeant in Iraq. He said the unit did [...]
Foley conducts survey for spring entertainment series
FOLEY – Foley residents and visitors will have a chance to comment on what they would like to hear and see when a new season of entertainment starts this spring in Heritage Park. Residents can go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QP9PN5G to comment on the entertainment options that they would like during “Midday Melodies,” and “Music and a Movie” in upcoming weeks. The city of Foley’s “Midday Melodies” series returns in March with lunchtime musical performances each Wednesday. Performances are scheduled for March 6, 13, 20 and 27. The concerts are free to the public. Participants [...]
Foley Public Library gets literacy grant
FOLEY – Young patrons at the Foley Public Library have a new workstation to use and learn on thanks to a literacy grant. The library received a $3,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The money was used to buy an AWE Learning workstation for the children’s section of the library. The AWE Learning station features more than 85 programs that assist children in learning, reading, writing, math, science, English as a second language and more. The programs are designed for children in pre-kindergarten through the fourth grade. The funding is part [...]
Foley plan meetings set in February
FOLEY – Planners will be in Foley in February to meet with residents and officials as part of the effort to develop a strategic plan to guide the community as it grows and develops. The city will hold three community forums Feb. 7 and 8 in locations around Foley. During the meeting, residents will have a chance to talk to plan organizers about Foley’s upcoming challenges and opportunities. The first meeting is at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve at 23030 Wolf Bay Drive.on Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On [...]