Local children with developmental disabilities will have the opportunity to come together next week to have a day of fun at the Miracle League Park.
Staci Wilson, of South Central Alabama Mental Health, said that her organization, the Miracle League of Covington County and the City of Andalusia have teamed up to hold at Developmental Disability Awareness Day 2017.
The event is set for next Thursday at Johnson Park, beginning at 10:30 a.m. “We have invited the schools,” she said. “Our programs will be coming and the Miracle League players are invited, too.”
Wilson said they anticipate some 200 people to attend.
“The mayor is going to sign a proclamation,” she said. “And we’re going to have a baseball game. Everyone will be invited to play and everyone will be able to hit the ball and catch.”
After the game, there will be a hot dog lunch and balloon release.
“We would like for everyone to come out,” she said. “There will be a bounce house, too.”
Wilson said those who attend will have the opportunity to find out more information about programs offered at SCAMH.
“We will have information about our services and how they can start receiving services,” she said. “A child has to be tested by a certain age for them to qualify for our programs.” Wilson said there’s a statewide waiting list of some 1,000 children.
Wilson said the event is to spread awareness about individuals with disabilities living side by side with those who do not have a disability.
“This event will serve as a way to generate awareness and provide information about the available community services and the valuable and importance of adequately funding these services for the individuals with developmental disabilities and their families,” Wilson said.
National Developmental Disability Awareness Month was established in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan.
The proclamation was designed to show support and increase understanding of important needs related to developmental disabilities such as housing, transportation, employment, social services and education.
Additionally, it is a chance to break down social barriers and encourage inclusive living for individuals with developmental disabilities.
“It’s time,” she said. “To recognize the benefits that inclusion in our schools, businesses, and communities can bring to all people – with or without disabilities.”
For more info or to volunteer, call Wilson at 428-5044 or Jonathan Royal at 222-2714.
Andalusia Star News
Andalusia Animal Shelter officials say they need the public’s help in subsidizing spay and neuter for animals that need to be adopted.
“We need help with covering spay and neuters from the public and local vets,” said Coordinator Christin Ball. “We need fees kept low here in order to be able to keep adoption rates high.”
About a month ago, Ball said that the Andalusia Area Humane Society stopped subsidizing the spay and neuter program. “Since no longer working with the Humane Society, the rates for spay and neuter at some places are over $200 and that does not include the adoption fee of $30 to cover the shots and worming given to them by us,” she said.
Previously under the agreement, Ball said the Humane Society was playing $30 to the veterinarian and the person adopting the pet was paying $62.
“It’s not a lot,” she said. “But it definitely helps when adopting pets.”
Ball said they currently have 20 dogs and five cats needing forever homes.
Anyone interested in making a donation or partnering with the shelter may the shelter at 222-8705.
Andalusia Star News
To begin participating in the city’s free recycling program for residents, call (334) 222-0862.
Residents are initially furnished two green bags.
All acceptable materials can be commingled in the same bag.
No sorting is required.
Cans, plastic bottles and jugs should be rinsed.
Recyclable Items Accepted:
Newspapers
Magazines
Cardboard
Postal Mailings
Aluminum Cans
Steele Cans
Plastic Bottles
Jugs
All recycling bags need to be placed out for pickup by 7:30 a.m. on garbage pickup day.
Andalusia Star News
The City of Andalusia’s fees for garbage services will increase $5 to $20 per month, effective April 1, 2017.
The cost will be the same, per hobo, for all of those businesses and residences that have weekly pickup service.
“Basically, our customers will see no change in services,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. The mayor said it costs, approximately $1 million per year to provide the current level of services.
“Right now, we are collecting approximately $750,000 a year (in garbage fees). “The rate increase will bring us up to level ground.”
Garbage fees were last adjusted in 2008.
“They’ve been the same for nine years,” Johnson said. “I don’t know of many business people whose prices are still the same as nine years ago.”
In addition to the garbage pickup, the fee will continue to pay for trash collection – things like limbs and debris that are picked up by the city. There will only be an additional charge for that service if a resident fills up more than one truckload at a given time.
The council previously had discussed potential changes to the city’s curbside recycling program, but decided to keep the service the same for customers.
According to a fact sheet provided to council members two weeks ago, only 25 percent of the city’s 4,274 garbage customers participate in curbside recycling. While the city has been sorting the recyclable materials to sell, it will now pay to have the materials hauled to Pensacola, where a salvage operation will sort them.
In other business, the council:
- Agreed to purchase 10 defibrillators to be placed in city buildings.
- Reappointed Willie Locke to the Housing Authority.
- Announced three openings on the tourism and relocation committee.
Andalusia residents could soon see an increase in garbage fees, if an ordinance proposed Tuesday night is approved.
Mayor Earl Johnson said for every $1 the city spends on sanitation, it is only recovering 75 cents in garbage fees.
“The City of Andalusia provides weekly hobo trash removal, and we have plans to expand to pick up more of what we call litter,” he said. “To do that, we’ve got to have the revenue to pay for it.” To cover the approximately $988,293 it spends annually picking up garbage, trash, and spraying for mosquitoes, the council is considering raising residential pickup fees to $20 per month, and increase of $5 per month.
For business establishments, fees will be set based on the number of pickups per week:
For five pickups per week – $329.
For four pickups per week – $264.
For three pickups per week – $199.
For two pickups per week – $132.
For one pickup per week – $67.
The ordinance also sets fees for the city’s landfill at $2 per hundred weight with a minimum charge of $20, with appropriate permits. Those who are subscribers to the city’s garbage service may dump appropriate items at the C/D landfill if they present a current copy of a garbage bill.
The price for special pickup of tree limbs, trees, old appliances or similar materials will be $91 per load.
A council can only pass an ordinance after a second reading, unless the council votes unanimously to suspend the rules. The proposed ordinance amends the existing ordinance for garbage and trash collection and landfill fees.
Johnson said city officials also are looking at the cost effectiveness of its curbside recycling program, and is considering changes in the future.
According to a fact sheet provided to council members, only 25 percent of the city’s 4,274 garbage customers participate in curbside recycling. The program costs approximately $200,000 per year to operate.
Andalusia Star News