In the wake of a Friday night robbery, the Andalusia Police Department is reminding local business owners that they will provide safety escorts for workers leaving their buildings in the evening hours.
“We know that they are leaving their buildings with sometimes small, sometimes large quantities of money,” Assistant Police Chief Mike Bowlan said. “If they would call us, it could prevent near-tragedies like Friday night’s robbery, from happening.”
“This is a free service we provide,” he said. “It may take an officer a few minutes to get here, and people sometimes don’t want to wait.
“But you never know when folks may be hiding in the bushes, waiting for an employee to come out,” he said. “This situation could have been a lot worse than it was. The suspects were armed with a handgun, and attempted to put (the victim) in the trunk. If she had resisted or fought, she could have been shot and it’s not worth the risk.”
Bowlan said it is “never a burden” to assist business owners.
Temperatures are expected to drop to dangerously cold temperatures tonight, but by the middle of the week will warm up again.
Today the high will only reach 43, but it’s expected to feel much cooler with wind chills between 15 and 25, and a north wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Tonight, the low will dip to 20.
A hard freeze watch is in effect tonight for the area.
“A cold dome of very cold air will settle over the area Tuesday night and bring the coldest temperatures of the season to the area,” according to a statement from the National Weather Service. “Temperatures are expected to drop to around 20 across interior Southwest and South Central Alabama and the interior Northwest Florida Panhandle late Tuesday night, which will result in a hard freeze.”
The hard freeze watch will continue until Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service said the impact of temperatures near 20 degrees or colder could cause ruptured water pipes and kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
“A hard freeze watch means widespread temperatures at or below 20 degrees. Ensure that heating systems are functioning properly and pets have adequate shelter,” the release said. “To prevent freezing and bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapper, drained or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have inground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above ground pipes to protect them from freezing.”
Wednesday will warm up to around 55 degrees and Wednesday night, temps will linger around 37.
Temperatures will begin to warm up on Thursday with the high near 61, and the low around 39.
Friday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Rain is expected to move in by Friday night with a 20 percent chance of showers and a low of 51.
The forecast for Saturday and Sunday also calls for a 20 percent chance of showers.
More than 300 people enjoyed Christmas lunch prepared are St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Sunday.
Now called Jo’s Community Dinners in honor of its founder Josephine Mosdell, who died earlier this year, the event drew one of its largest Christmas crowds ever.
“We were prepared for that number,” organizer Jan Morris said. “I’d say it was a huge success.”
Most of the meals were delivered, but a number of people enjoyed “dining in” at the church’s parish hall.
The event is hosted by St. Mary’s, but organizers rely on help from civic clubs, other churches and individuals from the community.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without people’s help,” she said.
The church organizes a similar meal on Thanksgiving.
As a means to help local residents who may be in need of a hot meal this weekend, the First Baptist Church-Opp’s men’s ministry is holding a “Soup for All Seasons” event.
Organizer Ronnie Sansom said the event is for “anyone who needs the hot meal.”
“We were looking for an opportunity to meet some needs in the community,” he said. “We hope to meet the need by providing a hot meal.”
Sansom said that while the men’s ministry is heading up the first-ever soup event, the church hopes that other ministries can come from it.
“We hope to put faces with the community,” he said. “And actually help out and minister.”
Sansom said the event will be held Sat., Dec. 31, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the church.
“Anyone can come by and have a hot bowl of soup,” he said. “People are making a variety of soups.”
Sansom said anyone interested in donating drinks, preparing a pot of soup or making a monetary donation, can call the church at 493-3235.
Andalusia Star News
For local students, the Christmas break started out great with sunny skies and fair temperatures – the perfect weather for playing outside – but now, those dreaming of a wet Christmas just might get their wish this season. The rain made its debut Tuesday in Covington County, and according to the latest forecasts, it will hang around until the weekend. Above: Raygen and Cason Clarke enjoy the first day of Christmas break on Monday by playing outside their Andalusia home.