State history was made in Andalusia in 1955 when then-Circuit Judge Bowen Simmons impaneled an advisory jury of six women and six ministers to decide the future of a child in a custody case that involved a well-known young couple. It was the first time women had ever served on the jury in Alabama.
Andalusia native Marianne Merrill Weber has written a fictionalized play based on the true story which Roger Powell is staging this spring through a new arts organization, ReAct Theatre & Arts. The cast had the first read-through of “Ladies of the Jury” Thursday night, with the playwright on hand.
Weber, who lives in Prattville and is a frequent visitor to her hometown, thanked both Powell and the cast for agreeing to do the project.
“You can write until doomsday, but until somebody says, ‘I’ll read it,’ it doesn’t come to life,” she said.
She was a child growing up on College Street at the time of the actual case, and has no recollection of the story, she said. But much of what she wrote about, she does remember from the time. She also has done extensive research on the actual case.
ReAct will present the play in the Andalusia City Hall Auditorium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 22, 23 and 24th, and other special activities are being planned around the event.
Cast members include:
Bernard Reeves – Ben Bowden
Forest Martin – John Peek
Julia Martin – Barbara Peek
Lindsey Martin – Hayden Howell
Junior Martin – Lucas Brown
Lelia Bell Martin – Pat Murphy Carlton
Pearl Brandon – Valarie Shakespeare
Billy Joe Brandon – Harold Jones
Ralph Watley – Frank Shaffer
Suzie Watley – Kay Hugghins
Tom Watley – Christian Pate
Zeke Carver – Leyton Kidd
Nancy – Cathy Powell
Fay Barrett – Casey Athearn
Madge Hardy – Carol-Ann Mullins
Vicky Braswell – Darlene Hogg
Melton Reynolds – Margo Russell
Mary John Reece – Hannah Cross
Dottie Wilson – Tiffany Kidd
Mrs. Levin – Lori Godwin
Mack Johns – Tyler Peacock
Lena Jones – Robynn Wiggins-Cowan
Rita Jones Bradford – Maggie Holmes
Lucas Bradford – Skip Enzor
Sheriff – David Wiggins
Policeman – Leyton Kidd
Rev. Jefferson – Arthur Carlton Jr.
Rev. Merriman – Robert Foreman
Rev. Avery – Chris Reynolds
Rev. Williams – (to be announced)
Rev. Johnson – Don Cotton
Rev. Barrett – Larry Popwell
The 2021-22 City Ambassadors were recognized by the Andalusia City Council at the council’s Tuesday night meeting. The ambassadors, directed by Mrs. Jerri Stroud, represent the city at official functions.
Ambassadors shown are (from left) Aidan Vines, Sophia Jones, Connor Dalton, Adeline Fischer, Cooper Taylor, Emma Taylor, Abigail Lee, Tucker Glenn, Meleah Treadaway, Cameron Johnson and Griffin Kennedy. Not shown is Marion Starnes, who is representing Covington County at the state Distinguished Young Woman event in Montgomery this week.
Ambassadors are governed by a committee led by Mrs. Stroud. The committee accepts applications in the spring, interviews applicants, and selects ambassadors for the following school year.
Mayor Johnson expressed his appreciation to the ambassadors, Mrs. Stroud, and the committee for their work.
Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson said Troy University football fans can look forward to great things as Jon Sumrall takes the helm of Troy football.
Sumrall comes to Troy from the University of Kentucky, where he recently was promoted to co-defensive coordinator. He previously served as an assistant head coach at Troy under Neal Brown during the 2015-2017 seasons. During that time, he helped the Trojans win a Sun Belt Conference title in 2017, as well a stunning victory against LSU. He also has coached in the NFL.
Mayor Johnson, who serves on Troy University’s Board of Trustees, also was on the selection committee to name a new coach this week. s
“There were four of us on the committee who made the recommendation to the chancellor,” Johnson said. “We interviewed four coaches from around the country and had in-depth interviews with each one. We asked what they thought of Troy, and what they knew about Troy.
“One thing was clear,” the mayor said. “Troy is a known football power in the Southeast and the Midwest. We have a highly-respected program.”
Johnson said Sumrall was an obvious choice.
“He’s been to Troy. He spent some time in Troy. He knows Troy,” he said. “Troy is a different place than other university cities. Troy is a small, rural town in South Alabama. You have to be different in how you recruit to that. Coach Sumrall understands that, and will be an asset not only to Troy University as a football coach, but also to the community.”
Johnson also said that when asked about recruiting to Troy, Sumrall rattled off a list of Alabama high school coaches he already knows and with whom he plans to work, including Andalusia High School's own head football coach Trent Taylor.
Johnson described the new coach as “very focused.”
“I think we’ve got one of the top coaching prospects in the nation in Troy now,” Johnson said. “He’s a bright young man. He is very, very committed. Very focused. And he is like Nick Saban in that his intensity. His background and his history confirms he can also coach. I’m very excited about Troy’s future.”
Sumrall will be officially introduced in a press conference on Monday.
The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday approved two items that put the city one step closer to having a hotel in the downtown area.
Ordinance 2022-01 declares the Timmerman Building, commonly known as the First National Bank building, and the top two floors of the Andala Building, also known as Big Mike’s, as surplus, which is the first step needed for the city to sell property.
Resolution 2022-01 sets up a development agreement between the City of Andalusia, Covington County, the Capital Improvement Cooperative District, Big Mike’s and Wood Properties, which plans to develop a boutique hotel.
The agreement calls for a limited lodging tax rebate to the developer and a property tax abatement, which will make the project viable in downtown Andalusia.
“These are just the first steps toward making this dream a reality,” Mayor Earl Johnson told the council Tuesday night. “The resolution authorizes us to enter into the project with the other parties, but it does not mean the project is done. The next key step is for the Covington County Commission to also approve a similar resolution.”
The commission has given notice that the resolution, authorized by Amendment 725 to the Constitution of Alabama, will be on its agenda on January 11.
The mayor said that if the commission approves the resolution, the developer can begin other due diligence to be done, including the architectural drawings of the project, and finalizing the financing.
The development agreement calls for all parties to sign off on the final architectural design, so that the exterior appearance will be in keeping with the historical character of the downtown area. The hotel will be branded with a nationally-known company.
“This is one of the biggest things to happen in Andalusia in many years,” Johnson said. “We were so fortunate to announce last year the repurposing of the Prestwood Building in a partnership agreement with CDG Engineering and Associates.
“That agreement, coupled with this new one, will address two of our oldest structures that have been sitting mostly empty for years,” he said. “It will also bring a much-needed asset to downtown – a first class hotel. With these votes tonight, the council has shown that it is behind the projects, 110 percent. Although there is still work to get done, you have helped put the project on the road to success.”
There is so much happening in Andalusia this week as Christmas in Candyland 2021 opens!
TREE LIGHTING AND PARADE
On Thursday, Dec. 2, we’ll flip the lights on the huge Christmas Tree on the Square at 6 p.m. The Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas Parade. The parade rolls down East Three Notch at 7 p.m. led by our Andalusia 10U Baseball All-Stars, who just happened to win the Dixie Youth World Series this past summer.
RIBBON CUTTING
On Friday morning at 10 a.m., we will cut the ribbon on the Square to officially open Candyland. We’d love to have area children join us. Bundle up, because there is 100% chance of snow, and we need cute kids in the photographs.
CANDYLAND OPENS
Candyland will open to the public at 5 p.m. on Friday. The monthlong schedule is available at christmasincandyland.com, but here’s what’s happening this weekend.
Friday
Open on the Square from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Open at Springdale from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Carriage rides from 5 until 7 p.m. , originating in front of the Prestwood Building on the Square.
Saturday
Open on the Square from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Open at Springdale from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Carriage rides from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., originating in front of the Prestwood Building on the Square.
Santa will visit from 2 until 4 p.m.
Elsa will visit from 5 until 7 p.m.
Sunday
Open on the Square from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Open at Springdale from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Carriage rides from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., originating in front of the Prestwood Building on the Square.
Santa will visit from 2 until 4 p.m.
Elsa will visit from 2 until 4 p.m.
SANTA’S MARKET
This new market will open Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, from 1 until 8 p.m. on Pear Street, just off of the Court Square. The market will feature handmade crafts and vendors. Similar markets will be held on Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18.
EVENING IN BETHLEHEM
First Baptist Church of Andalusia will host An Evening In Bethlehem, a drive-through, live nativity, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3, 4 and 5, from 6 until 8 p.m. each evening. The narrated “tour” starts on Tisdale Street. Look for directional signage in the downtown area. Last year, the event, which features actors and live animals, drew 6,000 people.
PILOT CLUB PANCAKE BREAKFAST
For as long as anyone can remember, the Pilot Club has sold pancake and sausage plates on the first Saturday in December. This year, the event is set from 5:30 a.m. until noon in the Kisanis Community Center. Plates are $7. The Pilot Club also has an arts and crafts event at the breakfast.
CANDYLAND 5K AND HALF MARATHON
If you’re gonna eat pancakes, you’ll need some exercise. Sign up for the Candyland 5K and Half Marathon, which takes you through scenic downtown and raises money for the track teams at area high schools. The race begins at Andalusia City Hall at 7:30 a.m. Online registration is available at chrontrack.com.
And that’s just the first weekend, y’all. We’ve got a whole month of magic planned, so don’t miss the fun!