Love games. Nearly everyone has seen them or been a part of them. Thursday night, Andalusia High School’s theater department will bring to life three short-plays in a dinner theater-style setting. Selections include “Big Baby,” “Check Please” and “Bob’s Date,” and all provide comedy for event-goers. Those interested in purchasing tickets have until this afternoon to purchase. Cost is $17, and includes a meal catered by Casey Jones. The event will be held at the Adult Activity Center. For more information call, 222-7569. Shown are Garrett Sassser and Brittany Raines, who are in “Check Please.”
The Coterie Club of Andalusia invites you and your family to the third annual “Movie Under the Stars” on Sat., April 30. The Kiwanis Fairgrounds gates will open at 6:30 p.m. with the movie beginning at sunset. This year’s feature is “Gulliver’s Travels.”
Admission is $4 per person. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. No coolers or outside food allowed.
For more information, contact Wendy Weaver at (334) 504-0256.
Covington County residents know they have a treasure in their own backyard in the Conecuh National Forest.
Now, there is an opportunity for parents to give an up-close and fantastic look at the wonders these woods hold by attending the upcoming Fresh Air Family event at Open Pond.
Verna Gates, Fresh Air Family founder and executive director, said the day will feature tours and a meet-and-greet with Roger Reid, Roger Reid, producer of Discovering Alabama and author of Longleaf, an adventure book for youth set in the Conecuh National Forest.
“This free and open event brings together naturalists with expertise ranging from longleaf pines to rare plants and animals living in this wonderland, as families are guided through the adventure of discovering the national forest, which is the world’s largest remaining stand of longleaf pine,” Gates said.
Members of the U.S. Forest Service and Fresh Air Family will serve as guides.
The event, which is being sponsored by the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation, will be held Sat., April 30, at 9 a.m. at the Open Pond pavilion. Saturday evening will feature a night of storytelling under the stars. Campers will sleep to the calls of the whippoorwill.
“Few people have ever seen this magnificent site, all part of the longleaf ecosystem,” Gates said. “Everyone is invited to camp Friday and Saturday nights in the Conecuh Camp Ground at the Boy Scout Loop.”
Camping is $40 for the entire weekend per family for campers needing tents. Payment is required for reservations. To register for camping, visit freshairfamily.org/eventscalendar.html.
Deadline for reservations is Monday.
With less than a week to go, the Covington County Relay for Life fundraising effort is just shy of 30 percent of its $120,000 goal.
Ressie Gray, a member of the fundraising committee, said collections are currently at $34,116.
“Our major fundraising will come in Tuesday when we hold bank night,” Gray said.
This year’s Relay event will be held Friday at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds and will feature a 1950s theme.
“We are set to rock and roll,” Gray said. “We are excited to have Elvis, The Back 40 Band and, of course, our annual Miss He/She beauty pageant, which this year, includes a talent competition, and fireworks by Bama Boys Fireworks.”
There are 25 teams participating in this year’s Relay event.
Gray said due to the tornado damage at the Kiwanis building, this year’s survivor’s dinner will be held outside.
“Workers will also be at the fairgrounds beginning at 8 a.m. if anyone needs to purchase luminaries or make donations,” she said. “We will have a full concession stand, and activities for everyone from children to adults. We want everyone to come out and support the community.”
Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m.
Eighteen area law enforcement and emergency personnel are completing an advanced hazmat training course at Andalusia’s law enforcement training center this week.
Police Chief Wilbur Williams said instructors from Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham received grant funding from the transportation department and the state Emergency Management Agency to train emergency personnel across the state.
Williams said the training would have cost $650 per person plus travel expenses.
Members of the APD, Andalusia Fire Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Department, Covington County EMA, and Luverne Police Department are participating.
Williams said the training is important, given the number of rail cars and 18-wheelers that pass through town.
“Inevitably, some of them are hauling hazardous materials,” he said.
Law enforcement officers also encounter hazardous materials in meth labs, he said.
At one time, COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) had funding for cleaning up meth labs. But in the first round of federal budget cuts when Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the government operational, those funds went away.
Covington County already has a disaster response van, he said, which makes local personnel more prepared than those who depended solely on the feds for clean-up.
“We don’t see the super labs, like in Mexico and the desert,” Williams sai