Mayor says city will offer extensions on utility bills
Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson announced yesterday that the city’s Utilities Department will work with federal employees who are furloughed or working without pay during the government’s shutdown to make sure they can keep their utilities on.
“We are talking about full-time federal employees,” Johnson said. “If they will come into the utilities office in city hall, and bring their work badges, we will make sure their power stays on.”
Once the government shutdown ends, he said, the city will work with the federal employees on payment plans to catch up their bills.
“I’m not sure how many federal employees we have who live here who are affected, but we certainly want to do all that we can to help them,” the mayor said.
Today marks the 27th day of the government shutdown, which began just before Christmas.
According to an analysis of Office of Personnel Management data published The Washington Post last week, there are 5,500 federal employees in Alabama working in the top three agencies affected by the shutdown. Of those, 2,300 are employed by NASA, 1,000 work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which includes the U.S. Forest Service), and 500 work for the U.S. Department of Justice. According to the DOJ website, the department’s essential law enforcement and national security functions will continue during the shutdown.
Both houses of Congress approved a bill guaranteeing federal employees back pay once the government reopened, and President Trump signed the legislation Wednesday.
On Wednesday Jan. 16, 2019, the town of Andalusia turned 175 years old, according to historian Wyley Donald Ward.
In honor of the 175 anniversary of the town, the Three Notch Museum hosted people to enjoy a piece of Cornbread Cake as they visited the museum loaded with the history of Covington County.
In Ward’s book, “Early History of Covington County, Alabama 1821-1871,” the historian points out the date of Jan. 16, 1844, as the date Andalusia was conceived.
The following is a paragraph from Ward’s book that highlights the approximate date the Andalusia came to be.
“The exact date that Robertson and Pettibone deeded the land for the new county seat to Covington County has not been verified, but the court house commissioners certainly held an option on the land (as required) prior to the time the selection was finalized by a legislative action which was approved on January 16, 1844. This act established the site selected by the court house commissioners as the permanent county seat of Covington County, thus was born the town of Andalusia, Alabama.”
According to local historians, many believe the date to be in July of 1844 when the post office was erected.
“The town has always kind of thought when the post office became the post office in July of the same year that that was when it started,” Three Notch Museum’s Linda Castleberry said. “The town was actually established before the post office. Mr. Ward is very particular about what he prints so it would not in here if it wasn’t true.”
The Andalusia City Council agreed Tuesday to let bids for two paving projects funded by separate grants.
The city received a Community Development Block Grant for paving portions of portions of Third Street, Eight Street, Ninth Street, Second Street, Oak Street, and Woodruff Street.
In addition, the city has a $250,000 Alabama Department of Transportation Grant for additional paving streets to be specified.
Glynn Ralls, director of public works for the city, provided a list of 12 streets he has determined to be the streets most in need of repairs. The total estimated cost tops $900,000.
At present, the city has $287,000 in its gas tax accounts, which can only be used for roads. At least $106,000 of that will be used as matching funds for the CDBG grant.
On the advice of Bob Carter of Goodwin Mills and Cawood, the council agreed to let separate bids for the projects, but have them due the same day. Carter will determine which streets can likely be paved with the ALDOT grant, and the additional streets will be included in the bid as an alternate. Based on the costs, the council will decide how many can be paved.
In other business, the council agreed to reapply for a state ADECA grant that assists in providing services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Police Chief Paul Hudson said to date, services have been provided for 250 clients.
Andalusia partners with Coach Safely to comply with new law
Volunteer youth coaches who work with the City of Andalusia’s Department of Leisure Services will be required to complete an annual two-hour sports safety course beginning this year.
Tommie Agee, director of leisure services for the city, said the class, which will be delivered electronically, was developed by the Andrews Research and Education Foundation for the Coach Safely Foundation. The course is presented at no charge through the foundation, in partnership with Children’s of Alabama, Encore Rehabilitation, and ThreatAdvice.
“All of our coaches have got to take it,” Agee said. “If you are on the sidelines of any teams, 14 and under, you are required. It is basically to education the public on sporting events and make sure we keep our kids safe.
The training is actually required for all community or association athletic personnel of youth athletes (14 or under), thanks to the Coach Safety Act approved by the Alabama Legislature in the 2017-18 session. The law brings coaching standards to all the 14 and under aged athletes in Alabama.
The law requires that the course cover prevention and injury recognition of:
- Concussions
- Heat and exertion illnesses
- Trauma and overuse
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Emergency action plan
- Physical conditioning
- Equipment usage
The Andalusia City Council agreed on Tuesday to partner with the Coach Safely Foundation for the training. There is no charge for the class.
The Coach Safely Act, which will be enforced by the Alabama Department of Public Health, went into effect on Nov. 4, 2018.
Members of the Andalusia High School band got to be a part of history as they marched up Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue so the state Capitol to celebrate the inauguration of Gov. Kay Ivey.
Band director Benny Shellhouse said it was hectic trying to get everything in order for the band’s participation.
“The amount of people participating in the parade was amazing,” Shellhouse said. “Just trying to unload and get in line was pretty chaotic. I don’t know if there were as many people watching the parade as there were participating in the parade.”
The parade featured five university bands and 17 high school bands.
Despite quick turnaround between the band’s Jan. 2 invitation and Jan. 14 performance, Shellhouse said that it was an honor to be invited.
“It is a great honor for us to be able to come here and represent Andalusia here at the inaugural parade,” Shellhouse said. “This is something that I think would kind of be an influence to our kids and something that they can remember.”
He said that people in northern Alabama don’t see the band, so the parade was great exposure for them.
“This parade was definitely something where people got a chance to see us a little bit more,” Shellhouse said. “A lot of people in South Alabama know who we are, but most people in north Alabama don’t have a clue who we are.”
For the seniors in the band, performing in the inaugural parade is something they can always remember, Shellhouse said.
“I am really excited for the kids to be able to do this,” Shellhouse said. “Especially for seniors, now they get the opportunity to put it on their resume or in their memory book. It is just a great honor all around.”
For senior band member Lindsay Dobyne, performing in the inaugural parade was heartwarming.
“It was a very fun parade to march in, even though it was really cold,” Dobine said. “But despite that, it was very fun and it was a great time to march in it with my friends. I’m glad I get to end my senior year with a bang.”
Senior Sara Piggott said that this semester she is looking at band as a blessing.
“It’s something that I look forward to coming to do,” Piggott said. Now that I’ve made so many friendships in band, I am going to miss it a lot. This parade is something that I wouldn’t have gotten to experience without band, so I am very thankful.”
Sophomore Skyler York said, “It really was a great opportunity. Kay Ivey was beautiful.”
Gina and Steven French made the hour and a half drive to watch their son, Grayson French, march.
“It is just unbelievable,” French said. “I want to say it’s heartbreaking to watch him since it is his senior year, but it is also joyful because I know there will be stuff down the road that will hopefully be just as big.”
Those participating in the parade included the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band, the Auburn University Marching Band, Troy University’s Sound of the South, Alabama State University and Jacksonville State University.
AHS grad Hampton Glenn is a drummer in UA’s Million Dollar Band and AnaSara Kipp is a color guard member in the Auburn University Marching Band.
Other participating high schools included BB Comer, Jefferson Davis, Wilcox County, Headland, Jemison, Briarwood Christian, Hillcrest, Leeds, Fayette County, Arab, Piedmont, Springville, Jasper, Brindlee, Haleyville and Sparkman.