Walkers or runners inside the city who encounter nuisance animals should call the Andalusia Police Department with a location and description at the time of the encounter, Chief Paul Hudson said.

The advice comes on the heels of complaints by the local running community of being chased by dogs, as well as complaints by residents of Albritton Road of cats being killed or missing.

“If you see a dog running loose, call the APD with a location and description,” Hudson said. “If it is after animal control hours, we will try to locate the animal and find the owner. If it occurs during the day, Monday through Friday, the animal control officer will be dispatched to pick it up.”

Pet owners are required by city ordinance to prevent their animals from roaming, Hudson said.

“We have a city ordinance for nuisance animals and a leash law,” Police Chief Paul Hudson said. “If your dog is caught out of your yard and not on a leash, you can be summonsed for allowing your dogs to run at large.”

That means an appearance in city court, with a possible fine.

“If your animal attacks someone, you can be issued a summons for a vicious animal and be (financially) responsible for quarantining the animal for up to 10 days,” Hudson said. “If your dog isn’t up to date on shots, you can also receive a summons for failure to inoculate your dogs.”

Local residents need to understand that it is their responsibility to keep their pets secure in their yards unless they are out with them on a leash, he said.

If an encounter with a dog is an emergency (someone has been injured), the call should go to 911, he said. If the report is not an emergency, please call the department at 222-1155.

The City of Andalusia’s Adult Activity Center and Senior Nutrition staff members are seeking sponsors for their Praying Hands program.

The staff organizes the gift drive for homebound senior citizens each fall, making sure that no seniors are forgotten at Christmas.

Adult Activity Center director Sonja Godwin said Gov. Ivey’s restrictions on senior centers across the state in light of the pandemic make it slightly more difficult to get the drive organized, but she and other staff members are determined to find ways to make the drive work.

Gov. Ivey ordered all senior centers closed in March, when the state first shut down public places in an effort to contain the pandemic. Although much of the state has reopened, the governor’s current Safer at Home Order allows senior centers to offer delivered or take-out lunches, but no social gathering. 

“Typically, we ask people to come by and pick up an information sheet on a senior from our Praying Hands tree,” Godwin said. “This year, we are seeking helpers to make Christmas special for 45 individuals, all of whom are 60 years or older and are homebound.”

The senior adults were asked to complete questionnaires about their Christmas wishes, and the AAC staff is asking adopters to participate in one of two ways. 

“You can call our office at 222-6891 to choose your praying hands revealing a homebound senior’s wishes,” Godwin said. “We ask that you spend no less than $40 per person.”

Alternately, she said, individuals can make a financial contribution and the AAC staff will shop for the senior adults. Gifts should be dropped at the Adult Activity Center no later than Monday, November 30.

For additional information, call Godwin at 222-6891 or email her at .

The Andalusia Public Library will reopen its doors to the public on Monday, October 5, for the first time since the pandemic began, but with new safety rules in place.

Mona Simon, who took over as interim director of APL when Karin Taylor retired this summer, said the library staff has been providing curbside service for its patrons for months but looks forward to having them back in the building. The following guidelines will be in place:

• Patrons must wear masks, which will be provided for those who do not have one.

• Social distancing will be observed, with only 15 people allowed in the library at one time. 

• To allow access to all, patrons will be asked to limit their visits to 30 minutes. 

• The computer lab will be limited to eight stations while social distancing rules are in effect. Patrons are asked to reserve computer time, which is limited to 30 minutes per patron, by calling 222-6612.

• Patrons are asked to use the front and side (handicapped ramp) entrances. The back door will remain locked as the area is reserved for continued curbside service for those not yet comfortable entering the library.

• The Children’s Library and the Dixon Room will remain closed for now, as gatherings are still limited by Gov. Kay Ivey’s Safer at Home Order. 

• The reference and genealogy room also will remain closed for now. 

Simon said that the library staff is reserving the first hour of each weekday, from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m., for senior citizens. The library will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Simon said the library staff, assisted by City of Andalusia employees in the Planning and Development division, has used the time the facility has been closed to the public to do cleaning, painting, upgrades and reorganization. Just this week, the carpet is being cleaned throughout the facility. Safety shields and barriers have been added to each desk area for the protection of staff members during the pandemic, she said. 

Hand sanitizing stations also are in place for the convenience of patrons and staff members, she said.

Simon said the Interlibrary Loan Librarian (ILL) has returned all borrowed books from lending libraries and is opening ILL for requests. 

“This is a very important function,” Simon said. “Patrons requesting older or specialized books the library does not have the funds or room for can get them through Interlibrary loan.” 

 The Covington Veterans Foundation will conduct sales of veteran tribute banners for display in November from Mon., Sept. 28, through Fri., Oct. 9.

The project began last year, when the Foundation sold more than 240 of the banners, which are to be displayed annually during the month of November in downtown Andalusia.

“We were thrilled with the response we received last year,” CVF Chairman John Vick said. “We have already had inquiries about adding banners and are pleased to announce this year’s sales. This tribute to our local veterans in the public space brings attention to the service and sacrifice of these individuals. We can never thank them enough for their services to our country.”

Vick said the CVF also is selling tribute banners for current active duty military personnel this year. 

The Covington Veterans Foundation will display all banners in Andalusia. However, it also has entered an agreement with the City of Opp to duplicate banners of Opp area veterans which will be displayed in that city’s downtown area.  

The banners are $100 each and include a photograph of the veteran. The banners will be used each year.

Forms can be downloaded from the Covington Veterans Foundation Facebook page or the City of Andalusia’s website. They also are available in the Covington County Veterans Service Office in the County Administration Building, in Andalusia City Hall.

Banners can be purchased on the third floor of the Andalusia City Hall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Sept. 28 through Oct. 9. A high-quality photograph of the veteran in uniform should accompany the form and payment. Because of COVID-related production and shipping delays, the deadline cannot be extended.

Click here for a form. For additional information, contact Michele Gerlach at 428-1143, or email .