Tony Cardenas believes he has the “best kept secret in Andalusia.”
Just off Hwy. 84 East on Airport Rd., about two miles down, Tosa Park sits, waiting to offer its fun for the family.
“I don’t know what the thing is,” Cardenas said. “The weird thing is that there’s nothing else for these kids to do.”
Cardenas built Tosa Park from the ground up, laying the foundation for its 800-foot g0-kart track and the 18-hole mini golf course. The golf course took 19 yards of concrete to be completed.
The park has been open for two years, and it offers kart enthusiasts rides for $5, and golf nuts a round of put-put for $4.
Additionally, there is a party room for families or big groups interested in throwing birthday parties for kids up to 14 years old.
The park is open from noon until about 6 p.m. every day unless it rains, Cardenas said.
For more information on the park, call 222-1908.
“This is the best kept secret in Andalusia,” Cardenas said.
“The Verdict” is in, and the food is good – or at least that’s the general consensus of those visiting the Court Square’s newest restaurant.
Located in the Prestwood Building, The Verdict is owned by Christy Cartwright of Gantt and features both a lunchtime and nighttime menu.
Cart-wright’s husband, Rick, is the chef.
“Christy had the idea (of opening the restaurant) because there wasn’t a lot of variety of things to eat near the Courthouse,” Rick said. “So far, business has been brisk, so she must’ve been right.”
There are daily lunch specials offered, like today’s meatloaf, he said. Other favorites include traditional lunch fare such has hamburgers and sandwiches.
The dinner menu includes steaks, seafood and pasta, he said.
“My specialty is the Bourbon Street rib eye,” he said. “I can’t describe it – all that seasoning. It’s just wonderful.”
Also, many may remember the couple’s son, Gordie, who was dubbed the “Cornbread King” after winning the national 4-H Cornbread Cook-Off last year.
Gordie will also be trying his hand at the grill, Rick said.
“He says he wants to be a chef,” he said. “We let him try it out when we’re not too busy. He’s pretty good, too, if I do say so myself.”
The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Construction could begin at the new Andalusia High School athletic facility in as little as three weeks, said project engineer Joe Dofrono at Monday’s board of education meeting.
The announcement came after board members awarded the project bid to low bidder Bay Shore Construction of Bay Minette. The award was for the base bid and add alternate one. Cost of the project is set at $2.308 million; however, Dofrono said he will work with contractors “to get that price down even more.”
The company will have 365 calendar days to complete the project.
“It’ll take about 10 days to get the contract and do the paperwork,” he said. “We could turn dirt three weeks from today. It’ll take a bit to mobilize, but we’re going to kick it into high gear.”
City officials said Monday that area senior citizens are being targeted with a direct mail campaign selling water line insurance.
While the direct mail piece says the insurance is offered by an independent company, Andalusia Utilities office manager Cathy Alexander said she has received numerous phone calls from local residents who believe they’re being encouraged by buy the insurance by the city.
“We want to make sure people know it is not from us,” she said.
Friday was the big finish for the LAAC’s summer theater camp. Taught by Cathy Powell, there were 20-plus children attending the weeklong session, which ended with a production of ‘Bebop with Aesop.’ Above: It really was a big finish for those attending this week’s camp, which included Holly Majors, Will Shay, Ava Bailey, Ashlan Nall, Cameron Woodard, Callen Woodard, Katherine Finley, Audrey Danford, Michaelyn Russell, Skylar York, Katelyn Pettie, Holly Taylor, Anabell Bryant, Mary Taylor Seymore, Alyssa Kilgore, Clorissa Morgan, Courtney Bulger, C.P. Wossilek, Blakely Hammond, Sam Dalton, Drew Griffin, Peyton Cannon and Alex Barnes.