Eight years after he began an experiment in growing tea in Alabama, Bob Sims is pleased with the progress his plants have made in Andalusia. 

Sims is an Alabama native who lives in Texas. The entrepreneur had long had an interest in growing his family’s tea business from the sale of tea to the cultivation and processing of tea. This week he said that while he isn’t ready to begin harvesting tea, it would have been possible in Andalusia this year. 

Working with British tea consultant Nigel Melican, Sims imported seeds from a tea plant in ex-Soviet Georgia. Melican said in 2013 he believed the plants would do well here. 

“Tea,” he said, “loves humidity.”

And in 2013 he described the tea plants being grown here as hearty – “built like a Soviet tank.”

When the 20,000 seeds left the Republic of Georgia for Andalusia in 2011, it was 20-below there. Some were damaged by the time they arrived, but Sims worked with Andalusia High School ag instructor Anthony Mikel and his students to get the planted in greenhouses here. Two years later, 7,000 plants were transplanted on approximately 11 acres at the entrance to the city’s industrial park. 

And Melican must have been right when he described the tea as hearty – the plants survived this summer’s drought without irrigation, Sims said Monday. 

“We pruned the plants back to 18 inches in January last year,” he said. “At the lower end of the field, they are six feet tall.”

The idea is to continue cutting them back until they grow into a hedge. 

Sims said the timing in getting the seeds going here was perfect. 

“Getting cuttings from overseas is not happening anymore,” he said. 

Long term, Sims would like to work cooperatively with area farmers to grow tea on their farms. He envisions producing specialty loos-leaf teas that could retail for more than $100 a pound. 

Tea also is being grown in Mississippi, California, Hawaii, Oregon and South Carolina. 

CDG Engineers & Associates, Inc., with whom we have partnered for many projects in Andalusia, just released this moving new video. The narrator's voice might be familiar to Andalusians. 

An Andalusia man is facing multiple drug-related charges and being held on a $1.7 million bond after the 22^ndJudicial Circuit Drug Task Force executed a search warrant Wednesday morning at his apartment.

TyShawn Maurice McCaster, 28, of McClendon Avenue, Andalusia, is charged with four counts of distribution of a controlled substance; trafficking in methamphetamines; receiving stolen property third; and possession of drug paraphernalia first. He also had an outstanding failure to appear warrant. 

The search warrant and arrests followed a three-month long investigation by the DTF. The Drug Task Force was assisted by the Covington County Incidence Response Team, the Andalusia Police Department, the Covington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. 

Investigators recovered eight ounces of imported methamphetamine or ICE, Xanax, synthetic marijuana known as Spice, three firearms, a bullet-proof vest and helmet, and a large sum of U.S. currency. One of the firearms, an AR-15, was stolen. 

DTF Commander Mark Odom expressed his appreciation to the law enforcement agencies which assisted in executing the search warrant Wednesday morning, and praised the work of DTF officers in their investigations that obtained the evidence needed to secure a search warrant. 

Andalusia Police Department Chief Paul Hudson said, “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the DTF to help eradicate illegal drugs from our community.”

Sheriff Blake Turman said, “Our DTF and Incidence Response Team did a good job in successfully serving a warrant and getting a criminal off of our streets. This is an excellent example of a team effort from all agencies in the county, and that’s what it will take to clean up our community.”

The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed, Odom said. 

The 22^ndJudicial Circuit Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Andalusia Police Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Office, and Opp Police Department. 

It’s located in the city limits of Andalusia, but visitors will feel like they’ve escaped to a getaway in a wooded oasis when The Oaks opens later this fall. 

Jason and Dawn Smith are developing the family RV park and campground on Brooklyn Road. The park offers concrete and gravel RV pads; RV rentals; family cabins; glamping tents; and primitive camping. Amenities include fishing, a bath house with private rooms, a children’s playground complete with zip line, and golf cart rentals for getting back and forth to the spring-fed pond. Visitors will have access to wi-fi in most of the camp. 

Jason Smith said he started researching RV parks and looking at area property about three years ago.

“I saw a need for it,” he said. “My relatives own Boggs and Boulders. I know a lot of folks in the Destin area. My wife is from Illinois and some of her relatives are snow birds. They can be close to the beach without being down there in the middle of it. The parks down there are booked up a year in advance.”

Mayor Earl Johnson said the project is timely and much-needed.

“I was already discussing with our staff the need for an RV park here,” he said. “We couldn’t believe it when Jason came to us with his vision. This development is timely and will be a great asset for Andalusia.” 

Smith said he was looking for property in the county and found the Brooklyn Road location when he went to look at a tractor he was interested in buying. 

“I ended up buying the property,” he said. “All 32 acres.”

He had visited a number of RV parks as he looked for just the right location, so once he had the property, he designed the park and got to work. 

And while he’ll be ready to open in November, he won’t be finished with the park. He plans to add a splash pad, a dog park, and a barbecue pit. By next spring, the Smiths will add kayak and canoe trips to the menu at The Oaks.  

As word of the new park has spread by word of mouth, the response has been positive. People are already contacting The Oaks for rentals, Jason Smith said. 

“We don’t have the cabins up yet, and they’re all rented for Thanksgiving,” he said. 

The Oaks will have three cottages, each of which will sleep five people. Each has a full kitchen, living room and bath. 

He also has several reservations for RV pads in November, ahead of the grand opening set for Dec. 13-14. 

A ribbon cutting is set for 10 a.m. on Fri., Dec. 13. On Saturday, the Smiths are inviting the public in to see the facility and will have Today’s Yesterday’s Band from 5 until 9 p.m., with barbecue from Hilltop. 

The Oaks is located at 13421 Brooklyn Road. Additional information and online reservations are available at www.oaksfamilyrv.com. The Smiths can also be reached at , or 334.313.8164.