Andalusia’s city streets will get more than $829,000 in improvements in coming weeks, thanks in part to a Community Development Block Grant.
The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday accepted the low bids from Bullard Excavating, Inc., for two projects designed to improve city streets. Bob Carter of Goodwyn Mills Cawood, who designed the project, reviewed the three bids received and made the recommendation.
The first project, funded mostly by a CDBG grant, totals $268,850, and is for resurfacing parts of Woodruff Street, Third Street, Second Street, Eighth Street, and Ninth Street.
The second project, for which the city will use its gasoline tax accounts, street resurfacing account, and capital improvements account, totals $560,500.
It will resurface portions of Stratford Court, W. Meadowbrook Drive, E. Meadowbrook Drive, Ruby Lane, Adams Street, East Three Notch Court, Snead Street, Pecan Street, Spruce Drive, Waites Street, Highland Avenue, Arnold Street, Bagley Street, Thweat, Cawthon Street, and Allen Street.
Ruth Duncan can’t remember a time when she didn’t show up to the Senior Appreciation Day hosted by the Andalusia Adult Activity Center.
The 85-year old is a regular at the activity center, where she goes four days a week.
“On Tuesdays, I play canasta and I take square dancing lessons,” Duncan said. “Then on Thursdays, I play dominoes and Mexican train. I am very busy.”
Duncan said that she goes to the Adult Activity Center to stay busy.
“It is a way that I can get out of the house,” Duncan said. “Also a way to stay active.”
She said that Senior Appreciation Day is a great way to meet new people.
“I was in the skit contest, dressed as a first grader,” Duncan said. “It is just a great way to meet new people. They make sure that it is a fun time, with no foul language and no drinking.”
Along with going to the activity center, Duncan volunteers with Comfort Care Hospice on Thursdays.
“I have been volunteering there for as long as I can remember,” Duncan said. “I always say it doesn’t cost anything to volunteer, and the people are just so great.”
Organizer of Senior Appreciation Day Sonja Godwin said that this year’s crowd was about the same as last year’s.
“It has been going really well today,” Godwin said. “We haven’t counted exactly how many people showed up, but it looks like it is about the same amount of people as last year.”
Godwin said that the Alabama trivia – an activity added to coincide with this year’s bicentennial theme – was a big hit this year.
“The entire crowd seemed to be interested in the questions,” Godwin said. “It seems like all of the people here are excited to be Alabamians.”
Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson on Thursday commended Covington County Commission for changing its plans to provide recently-acquired property to South Central Alabama Mental Health (SCAMH) for a forensic mental health facility,
Last week, the commission hosted a groundbreaking and reception at the property, located adjacent to the Covington County Jail, and joined the Alabama Department of Mental Health and SCAMH in announcing the new facility, touting it as an economic development project that would bring 25 new jobs.
But on Wednesday, Commission Chairman Greg White issued a statement saying he would ask the commission to rescind its offer to SCAMH when it meets on Tuesday, March 12.
Commissioner Kyle Adams also provided a statement to the media, and said other commissioners have already agreed to not offer the land to SCAMH.
The statements were issued on Wednesday at about the same time Johnson sent a letter to commissioners asking them to rethink their position.
“I commend Commissioner White and the county commissioners for taking another look at this project and listening to the voice of the citizens and their concern about the impact this facility would have on our community,” Johnson said Thursday. “I encourage them to reverse their decision and not support this at the county jail or anywhere else in Covington County.”
The mayor said he plans to attend the Tuesday meeting.
“I will, however, be at the county commission meeting on Tuesday to make sure that the voice of the people of Andalusia is heard by the county commissioners,” he said.
In his earlier letter to commissioners, he said he was dismayed to learn at last week’s groundbreaking that “murderers, rapists, and other potentially dangerous people could be housed indefinitely in this facility.”
He said he also was concerned that the project moved to the groundbreaking stage without an opportunity for public input.
“Since the groundbreaking, I have had the opportunity to do some legal research into the operation of such a facility and I have talked to legal professionals who deal with the kind of issues that such a facility will create,” he said. “This research and the unanimous opinions of these professionals has convinced me that the project should be stopped.”
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Tues., March 12.
Andalusia’s Adult Activity Center is preparing for its 24th Annual Senior Appreciation Day with an Alabama bicentennial theme on Thurs., March 28, at the Kiwanis Community Center.
Doors open 8:30 a.m. The show begins 9 a.m. with Ron Taylor and the Country Brand. Activities continue until 2:30 p.m., and admission and participation are free.
In keeping with the theme, organizers have added an Alabama trivia contest to this year’s events, starting at 11:10 a.m. Cash prizes will be awarded.
The baking contest also is Alabama-themed, and entries should include pecans as a main ingredient. Desserts should be at the judges’ table no later than 10:45 a.m.
There also will be a banner competition, talent contest, character contest, and dance content.
To help celebrate the bicentennial, Troy University will exhibit its Wade Hall Postcards: Historical Scenes of Alabama and the theme is Tourism in Alabama. This exhibit shows how people got here (rivers, trains, roads, etc.), where they stayed (hotels, motels, lodges, etc.), and what they saw (natural and man-made).
T-shirts are available for $14 to $18, depending upon size and color.
The event includes a Senior Trade Day. As in the old days, you can buy, sell and maybe even trade a variety of items, such as arts, crafts, jewelry or even yard sale items.
The event is sponsored by the City of Andalusia’s Adult Activity Center & Nutrition Center, with support from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Andalusia Health, and the Martha and Solon Dixon Foundation.