Police K9s and Handlers Vie to Be Top Dog
FOLEY, AL – Foley Sports Tourism is going to the dogs and they couldn’t be more excited. The city will be one of the safest places in the nation September 24 – 29 as more than 100 police K9s and their handlers from around the country will come to compete in the 2023 United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) PD1 K9 Nationals. Competition Director, Foley Police Department Sgt. Carlos Lizarraga, said participants will be competing in obedience, hidden suspect recovery, article search, and apprehension work at the FST Fields. There will also be an evidence [...]
Foley recognizes Veteran of the Month
FOLEY – The city of Foley and Sen. Tommy Tuberville recognized U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chuck Maglothin as Veteran of the Month for August 2023. The Foley City Council presented a proclamation to Maglothin during its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 18. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said Maglothin was in one of the first groups to be deployed to Iraq after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Maglothin completed his service in the Army in 2016. He logged more than 3,200 flight hours, most of it in combat. Today, he is a [...]
Foley improving storm, flooding resilience
FOLEY – Foley leads the country in homes prepared to stand up to hurricanes and city officials are working to improve preparations to deal with future storms or other disruptions. Foley is developing a Resilient Housing Plan to help the city determine how to prepare for the impact of floods, hurricanes or other events. A draft of the plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of September, Jay Estes, a planner with Allen Engineering and Services, a company working on the project, said.. “Resilience is all about a community's ability to [...]
Beach Express improvement on Sept. 18 Foley agenda
FOLEY – An early step toward widening and resurfacing the Foley Beach Express is one of the items on the City Council agenda for Monday, Sept. 18. The council’s work session and regular meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at Foley City Hall. One item on the agenda is a resolution to pay $28,412 to move two power poles owned by Baldwin EMC. The relocation is needed to allow for intersection improvements at Baldwin County 12 and the Beach Express. The intersection improvements are part of the city’s plan to widen, resurface and [...]
Foley presents 2023 Beautification Awards to downtown businesses
FOLEY – Two historic downtown buildings are the winners of Foley’s 2023 Beautification Awards. The city recently presented the awards to Hollis Furniture on South McKenzie Street and the Foley Hotel building on East Laurel Avenue. “We’re very honored to recognize you and your outstanding effort to make the city of Foley the best place it can be,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said at the awards presentation. “ The city of Foley, our council, the Revitalization Advisory Board, appreciate everything that you guys do for our downtown and all the efforts because it doesn't [...]
Foley to build school crosswalks, other improvements
FOLEY – Students at three Foley schools will have better access to campus later this year after the completion of city projects. Foley will add crosswalks, sidewalks, signals and other improvements at Foley Elementary School, Florence Mathis Elementary School and Foley Middle School. The most extensive work is planned at Foley Elementary where a ditch in front of the school entrance will be filled in. The Foley Elementary project is expected to cost $67,522. Darryl Russell, Foley public works director, said students now use a small bridge that crosses the ditch. The bridge [...]
Major Foley projects to start in 2024
FOLEY – The upcoming year will bring the start of major city construction projects in Foley under plans in the 2024 budget. The Foley City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 5, to approve the budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Mike Thompson, city administrator, said the budget includes new projects and work that was planned in 2023. “In ‘24, we're projecting a $72-million investment in capital projects,” Thompson said. That's because a lot of these projects that we thought were going to be further along in ‘23 are rolling into ‘24. [...]
Foley’s budget reflects continued growth
FOLEY – The new Foley budget reflects continued growth in revenue that city officials plan to use for more capital projects. The Foley City Council voted to approve the new budget, which goes into effect Oct. 1, at the start of the 2024 fiscal year. The budget shows an increase in revenue over the last year. At the start of the 2023 budget, revenue for the next 12 months was estimated to be $56.58 million. The final total a year later was $64.83 million. City Administrator Mike Thompson said that while city income [...]
Foley adding street lights in Mills
FOLEY – With the remainder of the Mills Community approving annexation, Foley is moving forward with plans for improvements in the newest area of the city. The Foley City Council voted to approve the annexation vote that took place Aug. 22. Mills residents voted to have their community annexed into the city. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the referendum was the result of efforts by residents for more than a year to bring all of Mills into Foley. “They just have pride in their community and they appreciate us supporting this effort to bring [...]
Detours planned for South Juniper Street
FOLEY – Juniper Street will be closed to non-local traffic near Miflin Road starting Sept. 18 to allow the last phase of work to extend the route to Alabama 59 to be completed. Contractors have been working to extend Juniper south from Millin Road, Baldwin County 20, to Alabama 59. As part of the final stage of the project, Juniper will be shifted to align the road with the extension. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the detours are necessary in order to complete the work. “We will be detouring people probably on Pride Drive [...]