Earlier this month, the City of Andalusia was honored to host 65 University of Alabama students as part of the Blackburn Institute’s annual rural Alabama tour. The students had visited Lowndes, Butler and Conecuh counties before arriving in Andalusia.

They were at PowerSouth on Wed., Dec. 14, for a session with CEO Gary Smith, followed by a meal in the board room.

They spent Wednesday night at the Best Western in Opp. (Even though planning began in August, there were not enough rooms to accommodate the students in one hotel in Andalusia that evening).

On Thursday morning, they met with officials from CCB Community Bank and Southern Independent Bank for a session on community banking.

Next up was a stop at Andalusia High School, where Mayor Earl Johnson, Dr. Charles Eldridge, Dr. Daniel Shakespeare, and Coach Trent Taylor spoke about community involvement.

Mayor Johnson told the students, “You have to invest in your community if you want others to invest.” He talked about the need to improve school facilities, and how the City, School System, and the Public Education Building Authority board, chaired by Dr. Eldridge, worked together to update the auditorium and stadium.

Dr. Eldridge talked about raising private money to support the effort, and the importance of getting “buy-in” from all parties before undertaking such a project.

Dr. Shakespeare talked about the school system’s recent successes, including winning a state football championship, and making an “A” on the school system report card.

Coach Taylor provided a tour of the indoor practice facility and the stadium.

The afternoon session began with a presentation from City Administrator John Thompson on downtown redevelopment, and Amendment 725, which allows municipalities in Covington County to invest in the community. The students then did a walking tour of downtown to look at some of the projects mentioned in the program.

Other presenters were Daniel Wells, COO of CDG, Inc.; Andy Gibson, owner of Draftstone Properties; Lee and Debbie Williams, owners of Bluebird Coffee; and Kim and Kyle Baumgartner, owners of The B.

The afternoon ended with an hour of fun and photographs in Candyland before the students met in Andalusia City Hall for a wrap-up of their trip.

Mayor Johnson said it was refreshing to hear the comments students made about Andalusia.

“Our goal all along has been to make Andalusia a place where young people want to live, work, and raise their families,” he said. “When these very bright young people said, ‘This is a cool place, I’d like to live here,’ it was like an affirmation for us that some very hard work is paying off.”

Callen Woodard, a recent UA graduate and current law student who is also a Blackburn fellow, joined the group for most of its time in Andalusia, and a number of other local UA students and former UA students who were home for the holidays also joined parts of the activities. They included Darius Davis, Colin Marcum, Lindsay Dobyne and Rosemary Basss. 

David “Mike” Edwards, founder of Project Exodus Relief, will be the keynote speaker for the City of Andalusia’s annual Veterans Day program.

The program will immediately follow the Veterans Day Parade coordinated by the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11.

Project Exodus Relief, which includes Edwards and his wife Kendall, along with a number of hand-selected professionals, works to assist American citizens and Afghan SOF soldiers left behind after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The aid may be in the form of evacuation, medical aid, food, safe housing, clothing, or other needs.

Edwards began his professional military career attending Marion Military Institute where he excelled at military science while assigned to the ROTC program.  After his second year, he decided he would withdraw from school before being commissioned and enlisted in the U.S. Army with the intent to serve in a Special Operations unit.

He served three years in the conventional Army and was stationed in Korea when the attacks of September 11th, 2001, transpired. At that time, he re-enlisted for service with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He served with 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment as rifleman, fire team leader, and an assault squad leader on several combat deployments. He was wounded during a battle in Tal-Afar Iraq in 2005 where he received the Purple Heart Medal and the Silver Star Medal.

Edwards then served as a Ranger Indoctrination course (selection) cadre for two years before attending assessment and selection for the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC). While assigned to RRC he deployed countless times conducting low-vis clandestine reconnaissance, and other tactical reconnaissance missions. He has commanded a fighting force of as many as 700 fighters as the senior U.S. advisor. After being promoted to Master Sergeant in 2011, he finished his time as an RRC assistant Team leader. In mid-2013, he assumed the position of mortar platoon sergeant for 3rd Ranger Battalion. In 2015, he moved to Yuma, Arizona, where he was assigned as the Detachment NCOIC of the Free Fall Parachutist course, the NCOIC of the Jump Master course and taught at the Instructor Course. He retired in March 2019.

After his military service, he trained the most elite special operations units as a contractor in basic and advanced Military Free Fall tactics including body flight, canopy flight, and tactical employment. He also trained and evaluated SEAL teams in surveillance techniques while working as an independent contractor. He was then approached by Augustine Consulting Inc where he worked for a year and a half as a government consultant. He continues to consult on security, training, and equipment design and employment.

Edwards is a lifetime member of the US Army Ranger Association and has been nominated for the Ranger Hall of Fame.

He participated in 18 combat deployments. His personal military awards include the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, The Purple Heart Medal, four Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals and five Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Jumpmaster/Master Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Combat Badge with Bronze Star.

He has attended countless Special Operations and High Risk training courses over his two decades  serving in the Army as an Infantry Master Sergeant.

Following the program, a reception for veterans is planned in City Hall.

The Chamber invites all veterans and their family members to ride in the parade on floats it prepares. Line-up begins at First Baptist Church from 8 until 9 a.m. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. and will end at City Hall where there will be a ceremony at Veterans Park.

Walkers, bikers, golf carts, trucks, trailers and floats also are welcome to join the parade. There is no charge for participation.

There is so much happening in Andalusia this week as Christmas in Candyland 2022 opens!

FOOTBALL

Of course, the Andalusia High School Bulldogs are playing for the 4A Football state championship in Jordan-Hare stadium at 11 a.m. Friday. As a community, we are thrilled about this. Friday marks 45 years since the Bulldogs captured the championship in another iconic place, Birmingham’s Legion Field, and we think that’s a good omen. Our police and fire departments will welcome the Bulldogs back to town by escorting them to the stadium, where we encourage fans to greet them. Watch for updates on times on social media Friday evening. 

CANDYLAND OPENS

Candyland will officially 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, Dec. 2

Open 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

• Meet and Greet Mirabel, 5 – 7 p.m., Front door of Springdale

• Live music on Candyland Stage, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Open 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.

• Be on the lookout for The Grinch!

• 1 – 4 p.m. - Meet and Greet Santa

• 4 – 6 p.m. - Meet and Greet Elsa and Anna 

• 6 p.m. - Characters in Candyland Show

Sunday, Dec. 4

Open 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• 2-4 p.m. - Meet and Greet Santa

• 2-4 p.m. - Meet and Greet Elsa and Anna

• 2 p.m. - AES Show Choir

• 4 p.m.- Characters in Candyland Show

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. 2, 3, and 4, from 6 until 8 p.m. each evening. The narrated “tour” starts on Tisdale Street. Look for directional signage in the downtown area. 

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 $8. The Pilot Club also has an arts and crafts event at the breakfast. 

5th ANNUAL RED NOSE REINDEER DASH 5K

If you’re gonna eat pancakes, you’ll need some exercise. Sign up for United Fund’s Reindeer Dash 5K, which takes you through scenic downtown. The race begins at CCB Community Bank at 8:00 a.m. It’s just 3.1 miles, and walkers are also welcome. 

PILOT CLUB TOUR OF HOMES

The Pilot Club is working HARD this weekend. Their annual tour of homes is set for 1 until 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. Tickets are $15, and are available in advance at Sanbuck Insurance or Outlaw Realty. If you need to get a ticket on Sunday, make Bluebird Coffee Co. your first stop on the tour, which includes the Bowers Residents, the Jordan Residence, the O’Ferrell Residence and the Harper Residence. 

Shaw Industries Group, Inc.'s (Shaw) Andalusia, Ala. manufacturing facility was one of 14 businesses selected by Gov. Kay Ivey  and the Alabama Department of Commerce to participate in the second annual Made in Alabama Showcase at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Oct. 14, 2022.

"Today's Made in Alabama Showcase offered an excellent opportunity for some of Alabama's top companies to demo their products and connect with other businesses," said Gov. Ivey. "A vital part of the community for the last 30 years, Shaw Industries is Covington County's largest employer and remains dedicated to ensuring its work environment is representative of the top-notch products offered to consumers. I'm proud to have this world-leading company here in Alabama and am thankful for their participation in this year's Made in Alabama Showcase."

Plant 65, Shaw's Andalusia facility, creates fiber used to manufacture its residential and commercial carpets. Over the past three years, Shaw has invested in plant upgrades that improve efficiency, production, ergonomics and safety for more than 1,100 associates who work at the plant. Shaw has also made major investments in its people and their health and wellbeing with the recent opening of the on-site Shaw Family Health Center. The Shaw Family Health Center provides primary care, acute care, behavioral health and wellness services to the company's local associates and their dependents.

“The ‘Made in Alabama’ badge is synonymous with quality, and it’s crystal clear that the companies being honored in today’s showcase have mastered the art of turning out an amazing variety of world-class products,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

The honorees were nominated by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Manufacture Alabama, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama. The other honorees are as follows:

• Frios Gourmet Pops, based in Mobile, produces gourmet popsicles for its franchisees across the country. 
• To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company,  a national pioneer in producing organic sprouted grains. In their 17 years of business, they have grown to become the largest U.S. producer of sprouted grains, flours, legumes, seeds and nuts, producing close to one million pounds per year. They are located in Fitzpatrick, Alabama in Bullock County.
• Victory Game Clocks is a female, veteran-owned and operated team sport timing supplier based in Roanoke, Alabama. 
• WoodHaven Custom Calls designs top of the line turkey and deer calls in Heflin, Alabama. 
• Red Land Cotton is a family-owned, direct-to-consumer e-commerce company crafting luxury bedding, towels and loungewear exclusively from cotton grown on their family farm in north Alabama. 
• Golden Eagle Syrup founders, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Patterson Sr., produced their first can in Fayette, Alabama on October 28, 1928. The original manufacturing building still remains the home of Golden Eagle Syrup today. 
• Jack Daniel Cooperage manufactures white oak barrels for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The Jack Daniel Cooperage is located in Trinity, Alabama and is home to approximately 175 employees. 
• Specification Rubber Products began in 1968 as a manufacturer of molded rubber components for the waterworks industry, specializing in rubber gaskets. All of their products are Made in the USA in Alabaster, Alabama.
• Central City Urban Farm is a hydroponic artisanal family farm producing herbs, leafy greens and vegetables. They grow gourmet lettuces, arugula, kale, swiss chard, parsley, basil, chives and cilantro. The farm location is in the Sloss Business District in downtown Birmingham. 
• Hartzell Engine Technologies was formed in 2010 by Tailwinds Technologies from Kelly Aerospace Energy Systems. It is located in Montgomery. 
• Prystup Packaging Products, Inc. is in the business of manufacturing folding paperboard cartons that are used to package a wide variety of consumer goods products, employing 140 local citizens in its operations. The company has been in business in Livingston, Alabama for more than 42 years.
• Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. They have about 1,000 employees in Mobile and Birmingham, Alabama and another 32,000 employees across the world. 
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama employs more than 1,800 team members and builds more than 3,000 engines each day in Huntsville.