The City of Andalusia and the Covington Veterans Foundation are partnering to host the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance during Veterans Day week, and have several special events planned.
The Wall of Remembrance strives to honor and remember the sacrifices made by military personnel and civilians during the Global War on Terror, from 1983 to the present day. The memorial’s mission is to ensure that their stories are remembered, and their memories, especially those linked to September 11, 2001, live on forever.
The memorial, which is 120-feet long and 7 feet high, features a timeline of all major events in the Global War on Terrorism dated from the 1983 bombings in Beirut to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2022. On the opposite side, it lists the names of military personnel and civilians who died during the events of that 39-year time period.
The wall will be escorted into Andalusia at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 10. The escort will be staged from the property near the animal shelter on Devereaux Hill.
It will be erected near the Covington Veterans Memorial behind Andalusia City Hall, and will remain open until Friday afternoon, Nov. 15.
The current traveling memorial was established in May of 2016. It is based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and is escorted by U.S. Marine Brian Romans and the Romans Warrior Foundation. The Foundation assists veterans, Gold and Blue Star families, first responders and their families.
During this time, the Covington Veterans Foundation also will have a museum-quality exhibit related to the Global War on Terror inside Andalusia City Hall Auditorium. The exhibit will be open during business hours Monday through Friday, November 10- 15, and immediately following the veterans day parade and program.
The exhibit includes stories of local veterans who served during this period.
Other planned activities include:
• Celebration of Heroes – CVF will present this patriotic tribute to veterans at 2 p.m. on Sunday., Nov. 9, in the Andalusia High School auditorium. The focus will be on veterans of the Global War on Terror, with Mike Edwards, a distinguished military veteran and security expert with a career spanning elite U.S. Army units, including the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Regimental Reconnaissance Company. He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, and is the founder of Project Exodus Relief.
The Lower Alabama Community Chorus, Andalusia Elementary School Show Choir, Andalusia Ballet, and Scott Rogers and Phillip McClung also will perform. Admission is free.
• Veterans Day Parade – The Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The parade rolls from First Baptist Church.
• Veterans Day program – The City of Andalusia will host its annual Veterans Day program following the parade. Lt. Col. Rip Coleman (Ret.) will be the guest speaker. Coleman served in a variety of units around the world during his military career, and he was directly involved during combat operations in Iraq and Somalia. All are invited to a reception inside City Hall after the program.
Mayor Earl Johnson and the Andalusia City Council recognized Councilwoman Hazel Griffin during Tuesday night’s meeting, as it was her last as a member.
Mrs. Griffin decided not to seek reelection this year after having served 17 consecutive years on the council.
She began her political career at age 75, winning her first election by just one vote in 2008. She won again in 2012, and 2016, and was unopposed in 2020.
While she is stepping back from Council service, she wanted to continue to serve in some way, and has accepted an appointment to the South Central Alabama Mental Health Board.
On behalf of the City and the City Council, Mayor Johnson presented her with a small gift, flowers, and a proclamation in her honor.
The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday formally accepted a Federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP grant) for a new sidewalk project.
The project, approved and announced by Gov. Kay Ivey last month, will improve sidewalks along North Jerry St. from David Street to Short Street; along Short Street from N. Jerry Street to David Street; along David Street from Short Street to North Jerry Street; and along Manavista Street from North Jerry Street to the Pineview Heights Apartments.
The federal transportation grant of $800,000 requires a $200,000 match from the City of Andalusia.
The City of Andalusia previously has used TAP grant funding to build or improve sidewalks on East Three Notch Street, South Three Notch Street, Prestwood Bridge Road, Lindsey Bridge Road, Stanley Avenue, and around the Andalusia High School campus. A project currently underway will improve sidewalks on Third Avenue.
The Alabama Department of Transportation’s timeline for the 2026 TAP grant projects calls for final designs to be approved by July of 2026, and advertisement of bids to begin in August.
Darren Capps of Southern Engineering Solutions worked with the City to design the project.
The Council also abated properties for the accumulation of weeds, including:
• 108 Clay Street
• 519 Riley Street
• 210 Lori Lane
• 739 Auburn Avenue
The City of Andalusia on Friday morning held a recount of votes cast in the Sept. 23rd municipal run-off election in Council District 4. There was no change in the results.
District 4 challenger Greg Palmer on Tuesday called for the recount in the September election in which he and incumbent Presley Boswell ended in a 183-183 tie. That tie was broken by the Andalusia City Council Tuesday when they returned Boswell to a full term on the council.
There was one provisional ballot cast in that race that potentially could have broken the tie. However, when the Board of Registrars, with input from the Alabama Secretary of State, determined the voter was not registered to vote in District 4.
After certifying the election results from last week, city administrator John Thompson polled each member of the council to break the tie. Mayor Earl Johnson, Councilman Joe Nix, Councilman Kennith Mount, Councilwoman Hazel Griffin and Councilman Terry Powell all voted for Boswell. Boswell abstained.
District 1 Councilman Joe Nix also was reelected in the Sept. 23rd runoff, defeating Jermaine Woods, 142-98.
When the council’s canvassing meeting was adjourned, Palmer notified city officials in writing that he was calling for a recount, and also asked to inspect the sign-in sheets of those who cast absentee ballots and those who voted in person. He also presented $10,000 in cash to cover the costs of a recount.
State law says anyone with standing can ask for a recount.
“The petitioner must be prepared to pay the cost of the recount and must be required to give security to cover these costs in an amount as determined by the municipal governing body based upon an estimate of actual costs. The recount must be conducted under the supervision of a trained and certified poll official. Representatives of opposing interests shall be given at least 24 hours’ notice and shall be invited to participate in the recount,” the Alabama Code states.
“If the recount produces a change in precinct totals of sufficient magnitude to alter the result of the election, the outcome shall constitute grounds for an election contest as now prescribed by law,” the Code of Alabama states. “If the recount of the resulting contest alters the result of the election, the cost of the recount shall be borne by the municipality.”
Palmer also asked for a recount of the votes cast on August 26th. However, the deadline for a recount of that election had already passed. According to the Code of Alabama, Section 11-46-55, “The time period for requesting a recount ends 48 hours after the official canvass of returns by the municipal governing body.”
Palmer also asked to review records of who cast ballots in the election, including those who voted absentee. The City of Andalusia has been advised by the Secretary of State that those records are to remain sealed unless a circuit judge orders them to be opened.
The recount was held in City Hall auditorium. A technician from the tabulation machine company, who programs the machines, was present.
Alabama law requires that poll officials also return for the recount. Chief inspector Jenny Pitts was joined by Billy Joe Stallworth and Jimmy Jackson, who operated the tabulation machines on Sept. 23rd. Probate Judge Stacy Brooks, who manages all county-wide elections, also was present.
The poll workers unsealed the ballots, and separated District 1 and District 4 ballots, then fed the District 4 ballots through the tabulation machines for a recount.
After the recount, Mrs. Pitts announced the results, and the ballots were resealed, with the three poll workers signing the seal.
Both Palmer and Boswell were present for the recount.
City administrator John Thompson explained that when the costs of holding the recount are totaled, Palmer will be refunded the balance of his deposit.