Serving whole wheat bread, skim milk and fruits and vegetables has earned the Andalusia Elementary School’s child nutrition program a trip to a White House reception and an opportunity to rub elbows with First Lady Michelle Obama later this month.
Stephanie Dillard, child nutrition director, said the school earned the distinction by participating in the HealthierUS School Challenge, a program that recognizes schools that improve their school environment with nutritious foods, physical activity and nutrition education.
The efforts at AES earned the school the “gold award of distinction,” a plaque and $2,000, she said. It was the highest level of achievement available, she said.
“This was a huge surprise,” Dillard said of the award. “We’re ecstatic. This is huge honor for the school and the child nutrition employees.”
Dillard said to qualify for the award, the school was required to submit a formal application and requirements set out by the USDA.
“School lunches aren’t what they used to be,” Dillard said. “Now, we serve all whole wheat, 1 percent milk fat or less and healthier alternatives. We provide a lot of nutrition education, sending information home to parents about how to make healthier recipes at home.
“Healthy eating habits start when a child is young, and we work to do our part in making that happen,” she said.
Mrs. Obama is holding the reception on the White House’s south lawn July 29, Dillard said.
Participating in the trip will be AES principal Patty Taylor, Dillard; Bobby Richards, school manager; and Angie Brewer, child nutrition assistant.
The group will leave Thurs., July 28, and return Sat., July 30.
LBW Community College will hold orientation at all campus locations for new students who have completed admission requirements for fall semester.
“This is an important and required part of the student’s academic career,” said Heather Owen, LBWCC recruitment director. “It is a half-day on-campus orientation and an online, one-credit-hour transferrable course that all students are required to take.”
During the orientation, students will gain a better understanding of how college works, meet advisors, register for fall semester classes, meet other new students, tour the campus, and get answers to any questions, she said.
Parents or legal guardians have the option to attend a session designed specifically for them.
Orientation dates for the Andalusia campus are July 18 and 19; at the MacArthur campus in Opp on July 20; and the Greenville campus on July 21 and 28.
“Students must notify us by July 8 of their intention to attend and their primary campus location.”
For more information, call (334) 881-2282 or email .
It was a fine Fourth for area residents who gathered at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds Monday for the City of Andalusia’s Fourth of July celebration. Kaitlyn Theriot, Smone Talley, Morgan Talley, Miranda Fowler and Colby Whittington enjoy free watermelon.
For complete gallery, click here.
The Andalusia City Council declared three properties owned by the same person a nuisance as the first step in an abatement process to get them cleaned up.
State law mandates a very specific process in which a landowner must be notified or problems with safety issues on his property. The property owner must be given time to respond. If he doesn’t, the city can declare the property a nuisance and order the work done, or do the work and add the cost of the work to the property owner’s taxes.
The three properties now in abatement for weed and clean-up issues include:
• 13200 Brooklyn Road
• 101 Doyle St.
• 240 Sixth Ave.
In other business, the council:
• Received its audit for the 2010 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2010.
• Agreed to contribute $10,000 toward rebuilding the sign at the Kiwanis Community Center damaged by storm winds in April.
• Passed a resolution of its intent to close a portion of Antioch and Holley roads, part of a land deal for a new business.
• Agreed to apply for a $580,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Andalusia Police Chief Wilbur Williams has been appointed to the municipal law enforcement seat on the state’s Homeland Security Task Force.
The appointment was made by Sen. Del Marsh, president pro tem of the Alabama Senate based on the recommendation of Spencer Collier, director of Homeland Security.
Williams said he has known Collie, a former Alabama State Trooper, for a number of years.
“He was here in April for our pistol competition, and a frank conversation we had that day led to this,” Williams said.
The relationship between Homeland Security and the law enforcement community hasn’t always been great, he said.
“If you look at Homeland Security, we are part and parcel and integral to it,” he said. “If we have a terrorist attack, all of us have to coordinate to get people safely where they need to be.”
Williams said in Alabama there is much greater threat of domestic than international terrorism. But Homeland Security is also part of the response effort in natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes.
“The appointment of Andalusia’s chief to this statewide and very important committee is conformation of the quality of our police department in Andalusia,” Mayor Earl Johnson said.
“It is a singular honor for him and there is hard work that comes with it,” Johnson said. “It also is recognition for the outstanding quality of people working in our city.”
By statute, the 23-member task force is chaired by the governor and includes the state’s director of Homeland Security; director of Emergency Management; adjutant general; attorney general; commissioner of agriculture and industries; the state health officer; the director of public safety; the director of transportation; the director of finance; the director of the Alabama Port Authority; the state fire marshal; and representatives municipal government; county law enforcement agencies; municipal law enforcement agencies; paid fire volunteer fire departments; local emergency management agencies; of local emergency communications districts; airport authorities; the judicial branch of government.