The Andalusia City Council voted Tuesday night to take the first step toward relocating and upgrading its animal shelter, by authorizing the purchase of land adjacent to the Humane Society.
The property, located at 11 Williams Street, is owned by JAB Development, LLC. The purchase price is $15,000. The council’s vote is contingent upon there being no environmental issues with the property.
City Clerk John Thompson said the property is adjacent to a portion of the Humane Society’s Pearl Street property. The property being purchased by the city includes a building that is approximately 2,000 square feet.
Director of Planning Andy Wiggins said the building is in “fairly rough shape,” but has “good bones,” and there is a possibility it could be remodeled for use for less than the cost of new construction.
In February, Assistant Police Chief Paul Dean addressed the council with concerns about the existing animal shelter and concerns the APD had that the shelter would not pass state inspection. The APD is responsible for animal control.
Mayor Earl Johnson said at the time that developers looking about property adjacent to the existing shelter on Hwy. 84 would want the shelter moved.
“It’s one of those things we’ve danced around and kept pinned together with tape and barbed wire until we’re in a position to do something,” he said then. This week, he said the existing building has got to go sooner or later.
Wiggins said there also is a possibility the city can repurpose materials from a metal building it took down to build a new shelter.
Thompson also said the city, in partnership with the Humane Society, will be pursuing private funding to build the new shelter.
Andalusia Star News
By: Michele Gerlach
It might be hot as blue blazes right now, but there is definitely a white Christmas forecast for Andalusia.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chrissie Duffy said this year’s Christmas theme is Candyland, and already at least nine organizations have committed to build a playhouse of sorts for the square.
- Come December, the Court Square will be home to a white Christmas.
Among the structures planned are replicas of city hall, Springdale, a market, and other Andalusia landmarks.
So far, the City of Andalusia, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce, Covington Electric, Covington Millwork and Truss, Taylor Linen, Covington Realtor’s Association , Andalusia Regional Hospital, Gitty-Up-N-Go and Southeast Alabama Gas District have committed to build cottages for the event.
In addition, Duffy has secured snow machines for the square, and the first flakes will fall on Candyland the evening of the Christmas parade, Thurs., Dec. 4. After that, there’ll be snow at appointed times at least every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.
The idea, Duffy said, is to draw parents with young children who’ve never seen snow into town, and to encourage them to dine and shop while they’re here.
Billboards will begin going up in October, she said, and handouts will be sent home with students. She also plans to promote the event during the Covington County Fair.
By: Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
Parents of students who ride the bus to Andalusia City Schools need to be prepared for changes when school starts, system officials said this week.
First, the system has worked with CDG Engineering to streamline the bus routes for efficiency, district administrator Brook Blair said.
Blair, who manages transportation for the system, said the routes were revamped primarily for safety issues.
“We transport more than 800 children with nine bus drivers,” Blair said, adding that there also is a separate route for special needs children.
Blair said the increased efficiency should mean students spend less time on the bus.
As part of the efficiency, drivers won’t stop at every door, but at designated stops.
State regulations say bus stops should not be closer together than 200 feet, she said, to allow buses to get safely in and out of traffic.
“Our main concern is for safety,” she said. “Our stops are not at intersections with heavy traffic, and we looked for potential issues like big dogs. Some children may have to cross the street to get to the bus stop.”
It is parents’ responsibility to get their children to and from the bus stop safely, she said.
“We won’t pick up the first riders until 6:45 a.m.,” Blair said. Buses will drop Andalusia Middle School students off first, she said, with the drivers’ goal being getting AES students to school at 7:30 a.m.
At AES, students will no longer arrive early and wait in the gym, but will go to their classrooms to participate in the universal breakfast served there, she said.
With the route changes, students also will ride the same bus in the morning and afternoon, with the same driver, Blair said.
The school system will put up signs designating bus stops on Aug. 4.
“Parents should look in the neighborhood for bus stop signs,” she said. “They may be able to see two. If so, they may choose which one to go to.
“We may make some adjustments in the first weeks of school,” she said. “All of the bus stops have been approved with state regulations.”
The list of bus stops is being finalized and will be printed in The Star-News on Tuesday. Blair also said school personnel will be on hand at orientation to provide bus information.
Another change planned to keep routes as efficient as possible is that drivers won’t double back on routes. In the past, if it appeared no parent was at home, the driver would keep the child on the bus and take him or her home later.
“We need to be consistent on our time,” Superintendent Ted Watson said. “And parents, need to be there, or have someone there to meet their child.”
Students who do not get off at their designated stop, will be returned to the school campus, he said.
Watson said some children may have to... READ MORE at Andalusia Star News>
Andalusia Star News
More students are attending LBWCC this fall semester than last year, officials said Wednesday.
“Although the numbers are not yet final, we have a small increase in enrollment currently at 1,614,” LBWCC President Dr. Herb Riedel said. “However, we are up almost 5 percent in credit hours currently totaling 17,621. We are very happy about that.”
Riedel said that the increase in credit hours indicates that more students are taking more classes within the semester, helping them stay on track to complete their program of study on time.
“We advise students who are full time to take 15 credit hours per semester to complete an associates degree within two years,” Riedel said. “This increase also tells us that more students are taking advantage of the opportunities we have at LBW, and more people are realizing the excellent value they receive for their educational dollars by attending LBW.”
The increase comes after an 8.5 percent decrease in enrollment numbers, when comparing fall 2012 with fall 2011, and a 7.8 percent decrease, when comparing fall 2011 and fall 2010, according to Star-News archives.
The fall 2011 decrease was the first decline in five... READ MORE>
Two Covington County businesses were notified this week that they are among the winners of the 2014 Alabama Retailer of the Year awards.
Darby’s Village Pharmacy in Andalusia and J.R.’s Lawnmower Shop in Opp are among this year’s winners. Each business was notified this week by the Alabama Retail Association that it had won either the gold, silver or bronze award in their respective size categories.
David Darby, who with his wife, Laura, owns Darby’s Village Pharmacy and Medical Center Pharmacy, expressed his appreciation for both the nomination, and the support received.
“I would like to thank all of our associates and our customers for making this happen,” Darby said. “It is an honor to work with you and for you.”
Joe Richburg, owner of J.R.’s, was practically speechless last week when he learned his business was among the 41 finalists. When he received an email this week notifying him that J.R.’s was a winner, he was over the moon.
Richburg has been in business since 1986.
Chrissie Duffy, executive director of the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce, said she has been told that having two finalists from the area “was nothing short of a coup.”
“We should be very proud,” Duffy said.
The Alabama Retail Association will announce whether winners are gold, silver or bronze level winners at a luncheon in Birmingham on Sept. 23. Gov. Robert Bentley will be the keynote speaker at that event.
Winners are selected in four categories by sales volume:
• Less than $1 million
• $1 million to $5 million
• $5 million to $20 million
• More than $20 million
Andalusia Star News
By Michele Gerlach