As the pandemic becomes less of a factor, visitors are flocking to Alabama’s beaches after what was a year-long hiatus for some from the tourist destination.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, a critic of the policies put in place in response to the COVID-19 virus, said demand was up for the attractions in his coastal municipality.

He explained how things had returned to normal and slammed the “heavy-handed government” reaction that he urges should be more vociferously opposed in the future during an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show.”

“It’s Fourth of July weekend all week long every week,” he said. “It’s amazing numbers, and nobody is asking about COVID.”

“It truly is amazing,” Kennon continued. “Prices have gone through the roof just because of demand, lack of supply. But you know, people just want to get back to be living normally, and I think they’re realizing there was a lot of fear, fear-mongering. We have a life to live, and it’s time to move on. We just have no one asking about in any way, form or fashion for the most part.”

“Hopefully, this is a case history for people to realize this is what happens when you have a heavy-handed government,” he added. “You have a propagandist media, and they want to dictate your life from the time you get until the time you turn it in. And at some point, we have to say enough of this is nonsense. We’re not putting up with it anymore, or we just rollover. And unfortunately, I think 50% of the country is all-in to let them roll over us and have government be their god. And the other 50% are split between being too darn comfortable and not wanting to stand up to anything, and the others sort of getting shamed if you do.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.