Andalusia will again mark the Fourth of July holiday with a parade and a fireworks show on Friday, July 4.
The Old Three Notch Chapter of the DAR will hold its annual Fourth of July Parade Friday morning at 10.
Everyone is welcome to don their red, white and blue and join the fun. There will be floats, golf carts, bicycles and walkers.
There is no fee to enter, and no pre-registration is required. Line-up is in the parking lot of First Baptist Church beginning at 9 a.m.
The parade will roll at 10 a.m., and will travel from First Baptist down East Three Notch, circle the Square and circle back to the church on Tisdale Street.
That evening, FiftyFive South will return by popular demand to the stage at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds for the City of Andalusia’s Fourth of July celebration.
There will be bouncy houses and a water slide for the kids, as well as free watermelon. There also will be concessions on site.
The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and live music begins at 6 p.m. The fireworks show begins at dusk.
The City of Andalusia will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of the holiday.
Friday's garbage routes will be picked up on Monday, July 7, along with Monday's routes. Please have hobos out early.
More than 30 teams are expected to participate when Andalusia hosts the Babe Ruth 8U, 10U and 12U State Softball Tournament June 20-22.
“This will be a huge event for us,” Willie Edwards, director of parks and recreation for the City of Andalusia, said. “We’re excited to have this turnout, and look forward to a great weekend of softball.”
Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Friday, June 20, in Johnson Park. There is no admission charge for this tournament.
This marks the third consecutive year Alabama has hosted a state tournament. In 2024, Andalusia hosted the 10U Cal Ripken state baseball tournament. In 2023, the city hosted the 8U Cal Ripken state baseball tournament.
“We work hard year-round to make Andalusia a destination location,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “We know that events like Candyland, JulyJamz, and ball tournaments bring people to our city. While they’re here, they eat in local restaurants, and many sleep in local hotels. “
Reports generated from Placer.ai show that 3,600 attended the 2024 state baseball tournament in Johnson Park.
“We look forward to welcoming our guests to Andalusia.”
The mayor also encouraged business owners who have changeable signage to welcome Babe Ruth players to the area.
“You never know who’ll be visiting, and how an extra touch of hospitality might affect their experience here,” he said. “
Anyone interested in being a food vendor in the park should contact Edwards at Johnson Park, 334-222-2714.
Twenty-one people qualified to seek office in this summer’s municipal elections in Andalusia.
Andalusia residents will elect a mayor, five council members, and two members of the board of education on August 26. Those who had qualified to seek office when qualifying ended at 5 p.m. Tuesday included:
• For mayor, Earl Johnson, incumbent.
• For mayor, Don Cotton
• For mayor, Terry Craig.
• For District 1, Andalusia City Council, Joe Nix, incumbent.
• For District 1, Andalusia City Council, Will Sconiers.
• For District 1, Andalusia City Council, Jermaine Woods.
• For District 2, Andalusia City Council, Kennith Mount, incumbent.
• For District 2, Andalusia City Council, Deana Winkler.
• For District 3, Andalusia City Council, Jeremy Craig.
• For District 3, Andalusia City Council, Riley Hill Taylor.
• For District 4, Andalusia City Council, Presley Boswell, incumbent.
• For District 4, Andalusia City Council, Ashly Odom.
• For District 4, Andalusia City Council, Greg Palmer.
• For District 4, Andalusia City Council, Jeff Puckett.
• For District 4, Andalusia City Council, J.C. Sanders.
• For District 5, Andalusia City Council, Terry Powell, incumbent.
• For District 5, Andalusia City Council, Darren Forry.
• For District 5, Andalusia City Council, Terri Vorster.
• For District 5, Andalusia City Council, Andrew Williamson.
• For District 2, Andalusia Board of Education, Billy Bergfeld.
• For District 4, Andalusia Board of Education, Parrish King, incumbent.
City elections will be held August 26, 2025, with a runoff on Sept. 23, 2025, if needed.
Andalusia’s Municipal Court on Friday began operating in its new facility on Coffee Street.
The new facility, located next door to the former municipal court at the corner of Coffee Street and Opp Avenue, offers additional space and improved security for the court, Magistrate Ann Edwards said.
In the former facility, court employees could not access their offices without leaving the actual courtroom. In the new facility, their offices are adjacent to the courtroom, enabling operations to run more smoothly.
Edwards said the new facility also has space to allow attorneys to meet privately with their clients.
Andalusia Municipal Judge William Alverson said the new facility provides ample room to accommodate the municipal court’s busy docket. On average, the court handles 140 cases on plea dates, and 44 cases on trial dates. Each is held every two weeks.
Alverson said the the older facility also left court employees potentially exposed during court proceedings.
“This facility will be safer for court employees, and for those attending court,” Alverson said.
Those attending court will enter a door located on the side of the building adjacent to the parking lot located on South Three Notch between the Prestwood Building and Blue Bird Coffee Co. This door will only be open during court hours.
Those who need to conduct business or pay fines in the court building will enter the door on the Coffee Street side of the building.
The former court facility will be used by the Andalusia Police Department as a dispatch center that will include equipment to monitor the city’s camera networks.