The City of Andalusia is forming a Law Enforcement Advisory Committee resulting from a meeting Mayor Earl Johnson and Councilman Joe Nix held with community stakeholders on Sunday afternoon.
The meeting was set after a local woman, Twyla Stallworth, through her Georgia attorney, accused the Andalusia Police Department of racism during her arrest on February 23, 2024. The woman has not filed a complaint with the police department, but the allegation was made in a press release issued by her Georgia attorney and circulated widely online.
While standing on her front porch, the woman was arrested for refusing to show her identification when an officer responded to a neighbor’s complaints about her violation of the city’s noise ordinance.
An 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling recently changed the interpretation of Code of Alabama, Section 15-5-30, authorizing peace officers to demand identification. The Court’s ruling states that individuals are not required to present identification while on private property. However, there are a number of exceptions to that rule, which could cause confusion.
On Friday, Mayor Earl Johnson issued a public apology to Ms. Stallworth for her arrest, and announced that all charges have been dropped. In the statement, he also said the officer has been reprimanded for his failure to know the law.
At Sunday’s meeting, organized by Councilman Nix and attended by approximately 50 people, Mayor Johnson and Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson discussed the case and answered questions about the arrest and police training.
Mayor Johnson assured those in attendance that the arrest in question is the subject of an ongoing investigation. After reviewing the officer’s body camera footage with Councilman Nix, the city attorney, and leaders of the Andalusia Police Department, he said, he has seen no evidence of the alleged racism.
When asked in the meeting about implicit bias, Chief Hudson assured the group that implicit bias is a topic regularly included in APD required training.
The planned Law Enforcement Advisory Committee was the brainchild of those in attendance, and was quickly embraced by Mayor Johnson. Mayor Johnson appointed Councilman Nix to chair the committee, and said committee members will be charged with bringing concerns of the community to the attention of law enforcement officers, and will hold quarterly meetings.
Mayor Johnson stated he hopes that these actions will help prevent similar situations in the future.
Mayor Earl Johnson on Friday released the following statement in response to allegations made by Andalusia resident Tyla Stallworth in a press release issued this week by her Georgia attorney, Harry Daniels.
“On behalf of the City of Andalusia and the Andalusia Police Department, I would like to apologize to Twyla Stallworth for her arrest in February.
“All charges against Ms. Stallworth are being dropped.
“The arresting officer has a clean record with our department, but he made a mistake in this case on February 23rd. He has been disciplined for failing in his duty to know the law.
“When I learned about this incident last week, I offered to meet with Ms. Stallworth. She declined.
“Ms. Stallworth has not filed a complaint with the police department, but her attorney alleges in his release that her arrest was racially motivated. We have reviewed body cam footage of the incident, and see no evidence of racism.
“We have always worked hard in Andalusia to maintain great relationships among our diverse populations.
“In the video released by her attorney, Ms. Stallworth also claims that the police department has failed to respond to complaints she made about her neighbor. We also have reviewed internal evidence that shows the police department did respond.
“I have met with the Andalusia Police Chief and other leaders in the department. We have agreed that the entire department will receive additional training on Constitutional law, the laws of the State of Alabama, and the City of Andalusia’s ordinances, so that we will not have problems like this one in the future.”
Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Conecuh Sausage, an iconic Alabama maker of hickory smoked sausages, plans to invest nearly $58 million to open a second production facility in the state, creating 110 jobs in Andalusia.
Conecuh Sausage was founded in Evergreen in 1947, and the production location in Conecuh County will remain operational as the company expands to meet increasing demand for its products.
“Conecuh Sausage is a landmark homegrown brand, and I am thrilled to see that the company continues to grow and thrive right here in ’Sweet Home Alabama’,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This growth project will allow Conecuh Sausage to extend the reach of its brand and put its distinctive Alabama flavors in even more kitchens.”
Conecuh Sausage is a family-owned business that produces high-quality meats with a patented blend of seasonings. Its sausage products are sold directly through the company’s online store and Gift Store as well as through local grocery stores, national retailers and independent distribution companies.
Conecuh Sausage owners John Crum Sessions, president, and his son, John Henry Sessions, said they are making their long-term vision a reality in their quest to satisfy the demand for Conecuh Sausage products.
“We are eager to join the Andalusia community and add jobs and growth to the local economy while remaining in the State of Alabama,” they said in a statement. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to expand our production facilities and increase distribution to serve our loyal customers.”
As part of the project, the company commits to creating at least 110 new jobs in Andalusia and to investing $57.8 million to construct and equip the new facility in Covington County, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Conecuh Sausage’s expansion project positions the company for sustained growth while also generating a significant economic impact in the Andalusia area,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “We’re happy that the company decided to expand its production footprint in South Alabama rather than going to another state.”
After researching multiple expansion locations in the Midwest, Conecuh chose to remain in their home state of Alabama.
“This is an exciting and important day for the City of Andalusia,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “We have been working for decades to be prepared when a company like Conecuh Sausage was ready to expand here, and we appreciate the Sessions family for their confidence in our community and the investment they are making here.
“I cannot overstate the positive impact this facility and the jobs it will generate will have on our community in the coming years,” Johnson said. “Many people worked very hard to put this project together, and we are appreciative of their efforts.”
Other local officials also applauded Conecuh Sausage’s investment plans in Andalusia.
“For years I think that many of us have taken pride in being a next-door neighbor to Conecuh County, the home of Conecuh Sausage. And now, we are privileged to welcome Conecuh Sausage and the Sessions family into our county,” Covington County Commission Chairman Greg White said. “The County Commission commits to doing everything we can to make this a perfect fit as Conecuh Sausage expands into Covington County.”
“Conecuh Sausage has been a part of our menu for more than 75 years,” added Covington County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Rick Clifton. “We are excited to partner with them in their expansion plans for the future.”
The Nature Trail on the campus of LBW was officially named the Barbara L. McClain Community Trail on Friday.
Mayor Earl Johnson said, "Barbara's story is the American story. She was born to sharecropper parents who worked hard to provide for their five children.
"She applied the lesson of hard work and perseverance to her own life ... and eventually started McClain Contracting, which she co-owned with her son, Kevin, and managed so long as her health permitted."
Barbara was honored in 2009 as Alabama’s U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year, and traveled to Washington, D.C., where she testified before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. She also was invited to meet the President of the United States.
At the time of her death in 2022, she and her husband, Bill, had been married for 57 years. She is remembered as a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother.
“When Barbara and Bill moved into their home on the Antioch Road in 1980, the Nature Trail on the campus of LBW was only two years old,” Johnson said. “The two of them were regulars on the trail for decades, almost wearing a path from their house to their jumping on point.
“Today, it is especially fitting that Barbara’s name is being added to the trail surrounding LBW,” he said. “It is my hope that young people who hear or read her story will be reminded that while it may be a long road from meager beginnings to unimagined success, that road is paved with hard work, perseverance, and pure determination.”
LBW President Dr. Brock Kelley and County Commission Chairman Greg White also spoke at the naming ceremony. Bill McClain responded for the family.
The current forecast calls for a hard freeze over the next seven day in Covington County. The City of Andalusia and the City of Andalusia Utilities encourages residents to prepare for cold weather by wrapping pipes and/or leaving them dripping. Also, the City and the Andalusia Fire Department urge residents to use caution in heating their homes
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OFFERS THESE TIPS FOR WINTER WEATHER SAFETY:
- Winter weather can bring life-threatening conditions. Stay indoors and wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight warm clothes.
- Check on relatives, neighbors, and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.
- Protect pipes from freezing.
- If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice, or other obstacles.
HOME FIRES AND SPACE HEATERS
- Protect your home from accidental fires:
- Never use a stove or oven to heat your home. If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Place space heaters on a level, hard surface, and keep anything flammable at least three feet away. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage. Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. Connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
POWER OUTAGE SAFETY
Power outages are not expected. However, PowerSouth, which is the City of Andalusia's energy provider, traditionally experiences peak demand during cold weather events. In the event of a power outage, please use these tips:
- Don’t drive unless necessary. Traffic lights will be out and roads could be congested.
- Turn off and unplug any appliances, equipment, and electronics. When the power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.
- If a power outage is two hours or less, don’t be concerned about losing perishable foods. During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first. Then, use food from the freezer. If the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and cover it at all times.
- If you are using a generator, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions.
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement, or another partially enclosed area. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows, and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
- Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.