A long-rumored deal was finalized yesterday when Back Home Brothers LLC closed on property for the construction of a Zaxby’s in front of the Covington Mall.

Elba natives Troy Brown and Scott Brown said they were looking for an opportunity closer to home and family.

“We really liked the town,” Scott said.

Between the two of them, they have about 45 years in the wood business. They’ve lived all over the country, from Georgia to Mississippi to Minnesota. Now, they’re preparing to move to Andalusia.

Zaxby’s was founded by two men who had been childhood pals in Georgia who hatched their idea on a basketball court. The restaurant, which specializes in all things chicken, is now franchised in 13 states. The menu includes chicken strips, chicken sandwiches, chicken wings and salads.

The Browns said they expect to break ground by March 15, and construction is expected to take 100 days. When it opens some time this summer, Zaxby’s will employ about 30 people.

Local developer John Tisdale said the Browns have been great to work with.

“We are certainly glad to have them in Andalusia,” Tisdale said. “Having them here will make a big difference in redevelopment of the mall.”

Troy Brown said the progressive attitude of the mayor and others toward developing the city was a factor in their decision to locate here.

The infrastructure work done in Andalusia in the last five years is impressive, Scott said, especially considering the national economy.

Tisdale commended local Realtor Danny Solomon, who worked as a transaction specialist for both sides in the project. Tisdale said he has seen increased inquiries from businesses scouting new locations in recent weeks.

- Andalusia Star News

It will likely be January or February of 2015 before a project to refurbish South Three Notch – for which the City of Andalusia has been granted $8.6 million – is finished, if everything goes “hunky dory.”

That’s the message the Andalusia City Council got from Mayor Earl Johnson and engineer Tim Ramsden of CDG Engineering Tuesday.

The funds were announced by Gov. Robert Bentley Monday in the third round of ATRIP awards. Andalusia’s was the fourth-largest grant awarded in the state.

City leaders are working with financial advisors on the best way to locally fund its $2.1 million portion of the project, but will likely need a bond issue to raise the matching funds for the project, Johnson said.

But the city won’t need as much cash as previous grant projects have required.

Normally, when municipalities receive state funding, the projects are let, and the state reimburses municipalities for its portion of the expenses.

Ramsden explained that once design work is completed and “blessed” by state Department of Transportation officials, the state actually will let bids for the ATRIP projects. The state will then pay contractors and the local governments will reimburse the state for their 20 percent matches.

Ramsden said as currently designed, the project includes upgrades to the street, including paving, sidewalks and curbs, as well as installing underground utilities and upgrading existing water, sewerage and gas lines. Decorative lighting also will be installed.

He said he expects South Three Notch will be a two-lane road from the railroad tracks to the crest of the hill, then a three-lane road with a turning lane as it transitions to the hospital, with four lanes leading to the bypass. However, it could be changed to be three lanes from the hospital to the bypass. Much will depend upon a formal traffic study at Andalusia Regional Hospital and Moore Road, he said.

The project will be similar in scope to the recent River Falls Street project, Ramsden said, estimating that the South Three Notch will take 10 to 14 months.

- Andalusia Star News

The local Relay for Life fundraising season is full swing and opportunities to help the cause abound, said Chairman Larry Brown/

Relay for Life is an organized, overnight community American Cancer Society fundraising walk designed to serve as a culmination of months of fundraising to fight against cancer.

Currently, there are 17 teams registered to participate in this year’s “Playing for a Cure” themed event, which will be held on April 26 at the Kiwanis Center fairgrounds.

Brown said teams hold fundraisers to help meet the $105,000 fundraising goal.

“There’s still time for teams to register, as well as opportunities for individuals to participate by helping with fundraisers,” Brown said.

Upcoming events include:

• City of Andalusia Barbecue sack lunch on March 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Deadline for ticket orders is Friday. Cost is $5 for a sandwich, chips, drink and cookie. Tickets are on sale at the Adult Activity Center. Delivery of tickets and food is available to businesses or organizations with 10 or more orders.

• Andalusia Hospital’s masquerade ball on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Springdale. Tickets are reduced to $20 per person. Goers will enjoy a live band, silent auction and hors d’oeuvres. A photographer will be on hand to capture the night’s look. Cocktail hour is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Masks required and will be available at the door for purchase.

Tickets are available at ARH emergency department or at Sherwin Williams. Semi-formal dress preferred. One must be 21 or older to attend. For more information, please contact Amy Herrington at 222-6953.

• City of Andalusia’s karaoke contest on Sat., March 9, at 1 p.m. at the Adult Activity Center, for those age 12-19 and 20 and up. Registration will be held from 10 a.m. until noon. Cost is $15, which is non-refundable. All contestants should arrive by 12:45 p.m. First place winners will earn a spot to perform at the Rattlesnake Rodeo in Opp. Admission is $2.

To be eligible, contestants must have never performed for money, must select appropriate songs with no vulgarity in words or actions, and bring CDG (if you want the words to show) or CD/tape if no words are needed. Contestants must have two songs picked out in the event of a tie. The following areas will be judged: song, vocal ability, presentation and audience response. Prizes depend upon number of participants. Call 222-6891 for additional information.

• Relay for Life beauty pageant on March 16 at the LBW Community College Dixon Center. Applications are available at WAAO, Cadence Bank, P&J Formals, Upsy Daisy and CEC.

• Southeast Alabama Gas District bass tournament on March 23 at Pt. A Park. Cost $90 per boat; $10 optional big fish per boat. For more information, contact Randy Castleberry at 488-4238 or Reba Gantt at 488-0543.

- Andalusia Star News

There will be more than $17 million in road and bridge improvement projects in Covington County, thanks in large part to ATRIP funding announced Monday by Gov. Robert Bentley.

The Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP), funded with a state bond issue, provides matching funds for road and bridge projects across the state. Nine of the 302 projects announced are in Covington County, and include a new bridge, seven resurfacing projects and one major improvement project in Andalusia.

Andalusia will receive the lion’s share of the $13.6 million in bond funds announced Monday.

The almost $8.6 million awarded to the city will require a local match of $2.1 million and will be used to bring South Three Notch Street to the standards of East Three Notch and River Falls streets, complete with underground utilities, new sidewalks, and decorative lighting.

Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson was traveling when contacted with the news.

“Fantastic!” he said.

He said he and others worked hard to convince the state highway director and the governor’s office to fund the project. Both visited Andalusia to look at the project, he said. He also expressed his appreciation to Rep. Mike Jones.

Now the city must put together $2.1 million in local funds for the project.

“We’ve got to,” the mayor said. “This is $8 from the state for every $2 we spend, when normally, the best you can hope for is a dollar-for-dollar match. We won’t likely see this again in our lifetimes.

“You’ve got to hit while the iron is hot,” he said. “This is one of the situations we can’t afford to walk away from.”

Other Covington County projects announced Monday were:

• $156,600 to resurface County Road 45 from Andalusia city limits;

• $2.3 million to resurface County Road 42 (Airport Road) from Andalusia to Brooklyn;

• $757,700 to resurface County Road 4 to the Geneva county line;

• $257,000 for a new bridge on County Road 25 over Eden Creek;

• $430,000 to resurface County Road 73;

• $718,600 to resurface County Road 42 from U.S. Hwy. 84 to County Road 77;

• $523,600 to resurface County Road 42 from Country Road 77 to Opp city limits.

“It’s a great day for Covington County,” said county engineer Darren Capps. Each of the county’s submitted road projects – which equated to 34.4 miles of roadway – was funded, he said.

“These are some of the county’s worst roads that are in very bad need of resurfacing,” he said.

Opp was awarded $606,200 to resurface West Cummings Avenue from Main Street to U.S. Hwy. 84.

City planner Jason Bryan said the more than five miles of roadway has been a problem “for years.”

“We’re proud of this award,” Bryan said. “It’s wonderful news. This section of highway has been a major problem in town that’s needed to be addressed for years.”

This was the third round of funding announced, bringing the total projects funded to 439. At least one additional round of ATRIP funding is scheduled. Eligible projects not selected in previous funding rounds are once again eligible to be submitted. Deadline for submitting applications for the next round of funding is May 31, and Capps said he plans to submit plans for other projects.

- Andalusia Star News