By Bryan Henry
ANDALUSIA, Ala. (WSFA) - Andalusia mayor Earl Johnson introduced the city’s first communications director Tuesday.
Michele Gerlach is leaving the newspaper industry and will begin her new job with the city of Andalusia July 1.
Gerlach spent 13 years as the publisher and editor of the Andalusia Star-News. In her new role, Gerlach will handle internal and external communications such as social media, managing the city’s website and grant writing.
Gerlach has served as president of the Andalusia Rotary Club and boards of the Andalusia Ballet, the LBW Community College Foundation, the Andalusia High School Scholarship Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce.
Gerlach is also the former president and chairman of the Alabama Press Association and a graduate of Leadership Alabama.
Gerlach will also serve as the communications director for the City Utilities Board.
Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson is celebrating his 25th year with the City Of Andalusia.
Hudson joined the city in 1994, when then-chief Jerry Williamson hired him.
In 1997, he was promoted to patrol sergeant and then K9 sergeant the following year.
Williamson promoted Hudson to lieutenant in 1999.
In 2003, he became a part of the 22nd Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force.
Hudson spent nine years on the DTF before he was transferred back to patrol before Mayor Earl Johnson promoted him to chief in 2013.
Hudson earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University in 2011, and is a graduate of FBI NA Class 223.
The Andalusia Ballet Association is $365,000 closer to its $700,000 fundraising drive to complete renovations to the top floor after the announcement Friday of three grants for the project.
Meryane Martin Murphy, founder and artistic director of The Andalusia Ballet, announced the funding Friday to a group of dancers and parents gathered for a performance at the Ballet’s Summer Intensive.
The group has received a pledge of $200,000 from the local John and Grace Estep Foundation; $100,000 from the Daniel Foundation, and $65,000 from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Murphy said this is the second donation of $200,000 the Estep Foundation has made toward renovation of the building.
The Ballet Association moved into the building in the fall of 2011, after entering an agreement with the City of Andalusia in which the association contributed $500,000 to the renovation of the former Church Street Elementary School, and agreed to become the managing tenant.
The initial work included three studios, offices, dressing rooms and a board room on the middle (ground) floor, and basic work on the basement floor. The Ballet Association has since built out a kitchen and small event space, as well as costume storage.
The current project will develop the top floor a large studios and three smaller classes that can be used for arts-related classes, as well as restrooms and dressing rooms Already, the facility is home to piano lessons, yoga, Pilates and Barre Energy classes.
“The building deserves this attention, and our community deserves this,” Murphy said.
With the grant funding, the Ballet Association has raised $523,000 of the $700,000 it needs to move forward with the project.
Locally, fundraising continues with a brick and cornerstone campaign. Bricks are $100, and can be personalized with three lines and 15 spaces per line. Cornerstones can be personalized with six lines and 15 spaces per line.
For additional information, call the Ballet at 334.222.6620, or visit the website at www.andalusiasballet.com. Brick and cornerstone campaign forms also are available on the Star-News’ website.