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Tar Balls Arrive at Alabama Resorts

By Associated Press

Orange Beach, AL – Beaches were virtually oil-free until Wednesday in Orange Beach, Ala., but dawn brought lines of small, rust-colored tar balls stretching as far as the eye could see along the water line.

Walking on the beach with her husband, Cheryl Trotter of Knoxville, Tenn. wondered if sealife somehow knew the oil was coming.

Trotter says she's seen at least four dolphins every day on her morning walks, but on Wednesday there were none. She rubbed sand on her feet trying to remove oil as she spoke.

Jim Trotter says their children wouldn't get into the Gulf, even though waters at Orange Beach had been clear until now.

Tricia Washington of Tupelo, Miss., stood at water's edge and watched small tar balls roll in. Washington is with her daughter, granddaughter, two nieces and one of their friends.

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