The Andalusia Tennis Association kicked off its 17th annual tennis camp on Tuesday with a record number of campers.
“The summer tennis camp had its largest turnout for the beginner class,” John Vick said. “Approximately 40 youngsters showed up for the first day of camp.”
On Tuesday, campers in beginner class started by learning the basics of tennis.
Everything from how to stand to how to grip the racket was shown by instructor Paul Smith.
The more advanced classes jumped right on the court and practiced their various swings.
As the camp goes on, the kids will continue to learn more in-depth aspects of the game.
The camp will conclude with each class playing a tournament.
“It’s a sport that you can play for your entire life,” Smith said. “I honestly don’t know what I will do when I can’t play anymore.”
The camp runs Tuesday through Thursday with four classes each day.
The camp will conclude on July 19.
“Registration for the camp remains open for anyone who is interested,” Vick said. “They can register at Johnson Park or at the camp.”
The tennis camp is jointly sponsored by the City of Andalusia Department of Leisure Services and the Andalusia Tennis Association.
Teen program kicks off at APL
The Teen Summer Program at the Andalusia Public Library kicked off yesterday with a mystery writing workshop with Kristi White, and Children’s Director Emily Brooks said that attendance doubled since last year.
“We want to do more of things like this so seeing such great participation is great,” Brooks said. “The kids were speaking and were very interested.”
White implemented a crime scene and had kids find clues to help write a six-word short story.
“It was just one of those teaching ideas that you get,” White said. “I was just trying to make writing fun, because writing can be fun.”
White wanted the kids to investigate the scene like they were in a crime scene investigation.
“I used an antique typewriter and left clues all around it,” White said. “Then they had to use the clues to get to the process of what they think happened and write a six word short story about it.”
White said that she was very pleased with the results of the stories of the students, who ranged from 11 to 19 years old.
“These kids are very bright,” White said. “The stories were funny and intriguing.”
Haley Warmack, one of the students, said that it was interesting way to write a story.
“It was really cool to learn that you can say so much with so little,” Warmack said.
Rebekah Bass said that it was fun finding the clues.
“Finding the clues was the best part for me,” Bass said. “It was really fun.”
White said that reading and writing at an early age is crucial.
“It is so important for students to learn these skills,” White said. “I always tell my students at the college that they need to always be reading. It doesn’t matter what they read, as long as they are interested it will help them learn.”
Author Ernest Hemingway created the six-word story, combining poetry and drama into a short form, and it is still growing in popularity.
One of his more famous six-word short stories is “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”
The next teen workshop will be a music video workshop with Christine Lynn on June 12 and June 19 at 2:30 p.m.
Later this month, several faculty members from LBW Community College will teach a workshop on financial success, teaching how to write scholarship essays, and how to fill out financial aid forms for college.
Tommie Agee has been named the Director of Leisure Services and special assistant to the mayor for the City of Andalusia.
Mayor Earl Johnson made the announcement at city hall Monday morning.
Agee, who was a four-year starter at Auburn in the 1980s, and was a member of two Super Bowl championship teams during his pro career, will begin work here in July. He is the first person named to the post since longtime Leisure Services Director Dwight Mikel retired.
Agee currently works as the assistant director of Opelika’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“We have been looking for a leader in this department, and we hit a grand slam,” Johnson said in making the announcement.
Agee said, “I have loved, loved, loved working with kids, mainly because I’m a big kid myself.”
He said he would not make any plans for changes until he has an opportunity to get to know the staff and the local operations.
Johnson said he already talked with Agee about setting a priority of adding an aquatic center to the city’s facilities.
“Troy, Opelika and Dothan each have one,” the mayor said. “We have set a goal to get that done. Tommy was working in Opelika when theirs was built and he already knows what we need and don’t need.”
Johnson said among Agee’s other duties will be helping to make connections beneficial to the city based on his many contacts throughout the nation.
Agee lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track at Maplesville High School. He signed a scholarship to play football for head coach Pat Dye at Auburn in 1982, and started at Auburn from 1983-86. He was the lead blocking back for Bo Jackson and Brent Fullwood, ending his college career with 356 carries for 1,735 yards, 10 touchdowns, 34 receptions for 336 yards, and 10 kickoff returns for 215 yards.
His NFL career began at the Seattle Seahakws. He later played with the Kansas City Chiefs, and was a member of the Dallas Cowboys from 1990-1994. That team won Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII, both times against Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills.
He and his wife, Anchylus, have three children, Tyler, Torey and Angelique, and one grandchild. The Andalusia Board of Education on Monday night hired Mrs. Agee to teach elementary school.
It’s official: Andalusia’s Head Start program is moving to the Bright Beginnings building this fall.
Earlier this year, the Andalusia Housing Authority, which has operated Bright Beginnings preschool, announced it no longer had the funding to do so.
Head Start has been operating in an older facility owned by the city, and the city has provided approximately $45,000 in annual support for routine maintenance on the facility.
Now, the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning Commission, through which federal funding for Head Start flows, has entered an agreement to house the program at the Bright Beginnings building. The city has agreed to do approximately $20,000 in modifications to the new building, and to provide $25,000 each year for utilities and maintenance.
Director of Planning Andy Wiggins said the needed changes include installing miniature toilets and sinks, and putting sinks appropriate for food prep in two classrooms.
Previously, the city has provided $75,000 in support for Bright Beginnings. The changes will save $75,000 in the first year, and an additional $20,000 in successive years, once the modifications are completed.
The current building used by Head Start is a former school building owned by the city and is outdated, Mayor Earl Johnson said. It also needs a new roof. The building will be razed, he said.
In other business, the council:
Approved abatement of five properties for weed violations.
Agreed to provide $2,500 in funding for July Jamz. The remaining $20,000 was raised through sponsorships.
The additional funds were needed because as the event has grown, more sound equipment is needed, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce Director Chrissie Duffy said.
Free meals for kids 18 years of age and younger will be available at breakfast, lunch and dinner beginning next week.
Breakfast and lunch will be served at the Andalusia City Board of Education (Woodson Learning Center), located at 1201 C.C. Baker Ave., weekdays from June 4 through June 29.
Breakfast will be served from 7:30 until 8:30 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Visitors may buy breakfast for $2.50 or lunch for $3.50. No registration is necessary for breakfast or lunch.
Andalusia City Schools child nutrition director Shan Burkhardt said meals are usually prepared for 150 to 175.
In addition, the City of Andalusia, the Alabama State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Andalusia Health and the City’s A.P.P.L.E. Program have partnered to provide an evening meal for children ages 18 and under in June and July.
Meals will be served Mondays through Fridays at the Woodson Learning Center (1201 C.C. Baker Ave.) cafeteria from 4 -4:30 p.m. during the month of June (June 4 -29), and at the
Coleman Gym (pavilion) during the month of July (July 2 -27). There will be no meal served on July 4th. There is no charge for these meals.
Legal guardians may register children for the evening program by visiting the Woodson Learning Center, A.P.P.L.E. office, Mondays -Fridays, 1-5 p.m., or at www.cityofandalusia.com.