There is a dire need for blood donations – specifically O-negative – at today’s LifeSouth blood drive at Walmart.
Called a “Stock the Shelves” drive, donations will be accepted beginning at 9 a.m. inside the organization’s blood mobile outside the Andalusia retailer, said Melinda Hinds, LifeSouth’s district community development coordinator.
“We need all negative blood types at this time the most – especially O-neg donors,” Hinds said. “LifeSouth is a community blood center and we supply local hospitals such as our major hospitals like... READ MORE>
Andalusia Interim Police Chief Paul Hudson may be waiting to find out if his new position will become a permanent post, but in the mean time, working on relationships throughout the county is high on his priority list.
“There is always room for improvement anywhere you go,” Hudson said. “We want to make sure that we all can get along here at the police department and with outside agencies, and build on those relationships to make them better. We want to work together for the citizens of Andalusia and Covington County.”
Hudson was named interim police chief by Mayor Earl Johnson following the retirement of former chief Wilbur Williams in November.
“The mayor made the decision with the council and I agreed to it,” Hudson said. “It is totally up to the mayor on whether or not to make me the permanent chief.”
Hudson, an APD lieutenant, wasn’t alone in stepping into a new position. Lt. Paul Dean also moved up, becoming Interim Assistant Police Chief when former Assistant Chief Mike Bowlan was named director of operations of the Wilbur W. Williams Law Enforcement Training Center and administrative liaison for police affairs for the City of Andalusia.
Hudson said, currently, there are several ongoing cases to focus on, as well as everyday police work.
“There are a few big pending cases,” Hudson said. “We’ve got this big theft ring that we have dealt with in Opp and that area that we’re working with some outside agencies on.”
As interim chief, Hudson brings with him years of experience in Andalusia and the surrounding area. Hudson, who grew up in the Brantley-Opp area, joined APD as a “patrol officer” in June of 1994. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1999 and served on the 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force from 2003 until December of 2012. Hudson said he has spent the last year working “back on patrol,” adding his new assignment will take him “off the streets,” giving him a chance to make a difference from the administrative angle.
Hudson said he wasn’t aware of any timeline related to a decision on a permanent police chief.
Andalusia Star News
By Blake Bell
Tickets are on sale now for the Luncheon Pilot Club of Andalusia’s annual Christmas Tour of Homes.
This is the fifth year for the fundraiser, which will be held this Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Nancy Robbins, club member, announced the following homes will be featured:
• Springdale, located at 505 East Three Notch Street, across from Harold’s Furniture;
• Hunter and Ginny Grimes at 705 East Three Notch Street;
• Kelly and Lynn Ralls at 201 Diane Drive;
• Larry and Mary Avery, at 601 Grand Oak Drive; and,
• Steve and Jennifer Palmer at 15200 Haygood Road.
“This year, our hospitality center will be located at Harold’s Furniture and Flooring,” Robbins said. “They are helping with the sales of tickets and maps for the tour of homes, and on the day of the event, they will have refreshments.”
Robbins said admission to the homes is by ticket only.
“We would like to encourage all ticket purchasers for the tour to... READ MORE>
The installation of all those holiday lights, you see, was a mayor-decreed must;
From River Falls Street to the lot of Winn-Dixie, from the Court Square and everywhere in between, there isn’t an unadorned lamppost to see – all because of the hard work of a staff of four plus three.
Santa’s helpers, also known as the crew of the Andalusia Parks and Rec Department, have been hard at it for weeks putting the Christmas touches around town.
Even as late as Wednesday night, the men were decking out the Court Square in preparation for tonight’s events. Live music will begin at 5 p.m. The tree lighting will begin at 6:15 p.m. and the parade will roll at 7 p.m.
The first snowflake – lighted, that is, arrived in Andalusia 13 years ago. Now, there are nearly 300 of them. But, what people may not realize is how much work it takes to make Andalusia so pretty.
“It’s finger-numbing, actually,” said Harvey Peacock jokingly. “It takes us two days to put up all the snowflakes. Then, anytime one has a light out, we have to take it down and fix it.”
Installation of the snowflakes took two days, each beginning at 3 a.m.
On Wednesday, Peacock and his six man crew – Charles Hunter, Ken Townsend, Benjie Phillips, Waverly Flowers, Tommy Horton, William Barnes and Chester Norris – were still making necessary repairs to the snowflakes. Just before Thanksgiving, the crew also worked to relight the large wreaths on city hall, installing some 800 new lights.
“Those look better than ever, too,” Peacock said.
Today, the crew will make the necessary changes to the Court Square by setting up the stage and sound system. It will probably be a 15-hour workday for the men, they agreed.
“After the parade, we’ve got to come back and clean the streets,” Peacock said. “It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but we have fun, cuttin’ up.”
So, is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the crew’s homes?
“No, we can’t do anything – our fingers are numb,” they said.
- Andalusia Star News
By Stephanie Nelson
The City of Andalusia’s Tourism and Relocation committee would like to announce that they are extending the accepting of the yard/ home decorating appli-cation forms through Friday.
Application forms are available at City Hall, Andalusia Public Library, the Adult Activity Center, and on the City of Andalusia’s website – www.cityofandalusia.com.
Judging will start the week of Dec. 9. Winners will be announced at the Dec. 17th city council meeting. Winners in each council district will receive a dinner for four at a local restaurant.