Foley downtown walking tours start Saturday
FOLEY – More than a century of local history will be on display in April when Foley conducts walking tours of the downtown historic district. Foley is one of more than 20 Alabama communities conducting the tours on each Saturday of the month throughout April. In Foley, the free tours will highlight historic areas of the city that date back to the beginning of the 20th Century. The tours will begin at the Foley Welcome Center at the intersection of Alabama 59 and U.S. 98. The Welcome Center building was the site of [...]
East Violet Avenue closing postponed
The closing of East Violet Avenue has been postponed. An earlier announcement had stated that the road would be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, until 6 p.m. Saturday, April 6. A new notice will be released when the schedule for the closing is determined.
Indoor pool on Foley agenda
FOLEY – The first step toward building an aquatics center at the site of the city pool in Max Griffin Park is one of the items on the Foley City Council agenda for Monday, April 1. The council is scheduled to vote on a site survey and design work for the new indoor center. The facility would replace the existing outdoor pool at the park on West Roosevelt Avenue. During a recent survey conducted in preparation of a strategic plan for Foley, residents said an indoor pool is one of the new recreation [...]
Artists asked to create Downtown Foley bike rack designs
FOLEY – Area artists are being asked to submit their ideas for a project to promote bicycle use in Foley while providing artistic displays downtown. Foley Main Street and other community organizations are seeking proposals to create artistic-sculptural bicycle racks to be placed around the city center. The Foley Main Street Community Foundation is coordinating the effort for the Foley Main Street Board of Directors, the Foley Revitalization and Beautification Advisory Board, Foley Historical Commission and Foley Art Center. To support the popularity of bicycling, and the need for safe and secure bicycle [...]
Public safety plan meeting set April 1
FOLEY – Foley residents will have a chance to discuss plans for road safety improvements Monday, April 1 during a Safety Action Plan meeting. The meeting will be held at the Foley Civic Center from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said city officials and plan developers have been working on the project for several months. The meeting will allow residents to discuss proposals developed as part of the plan. “They will be presenting the plans for proposed projects to the public. This will give the public an opportunity to provide [...]
Governor Ivey authorizes Foley flags to half staff to honor former Mayor Koniar
FOLEY – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey authorized flags in Foley to be flown at half staff Thursday, March 28, in recognition of former Mayor John Koniar. Koniar, 80, died Friday at his home in Foley. In issuing the order, Ivey authorized Mayor Ralph Hellmich to direct that flags in Foley be at half staff from sunrise until sunset Thursday. In a statement, she said Koniar had a long history of dedicated service to Foley and the country. “John Koniar dedicated much of his long life to public service. In addition to wearing the [...]
Foley offices to close at noon Thursday in memory of former Mayor John Koniar
FOLEY – Foley offices will close at noon Thursday in recognition of the long-time service of former Mayor John Koniar, who died Friday, March 22. Funeral services for the former mayor will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Foley. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday followed by services. A graveside service will be at Pine Rest Cemetery in Foley immediately following the church service. Mayor Ralph Hellmich, who was elected to the office after Koniar retired in 2020, said his predecessor set an example for all officials and [...]
Foley improving access on Graham Creek Park road
FOLEY – A project to improve Philomene Holmes Boulevard will provide better access through Foley’s Graham Creek Nature Preserve. The Foley City Council voted to approve the project at its last meeting. The work includes paving part of the boulevard, but leaving some of the route through the park as a gravel road. The gravel section of the road would be bordered by concrete to keep the rocks from being washed into the woods. Philomene Holmes Boulevard extends through the Graham Creek Nature Preserve from the park’s Interpretive Center to Roscoe Road, about [...]
Former Foley Mayor John Koniar dies
FOLEY – John Koniar, a longtime community leader who served as Foley mayor and a City Council member for 40 years, died Friday, March 22, at his home in Foley. He was 80. Koniar was elected to the Foley City Council in 1980 and served until 2006. He served as president pro tem of the council from 1996 until 2006, when he was appointed mayor. He was elected to the office of mayor three times, serving until 2020. John Eldon Koniar was born on Dec. 6, 1943 in Meridian, Miss. to John Koniar, [...]
Foley to repave, widen Beach Express
FOLEY – Work will start soon on the long-awaited project to widen and repave the Foley Beach Express through the city. Mobile Asphalt Company was the lowest bidder on the project, which will also include additional safety improvements on the route, which extends on the Beach Express from Baldwin County 12 north to the highway’s intersection with Alabama 59. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city approved the project about two years ago, but has been waiting for approval from the Alabama Department of Transportation before work could begin. “The good news is we [...]