The South Alabama Regional Airport Authority on Tuesday approved a lease agreement with Medical Air Rescue Company, which plans to locate an air medical transport service at the airport. The service should be operational in the next few months.
Medical Air Rescue Company (MARC) is based in Rapid City, South Dakota, but services South Dakota, Nebraska, and Texas with satellite bases located in Valentine, Nebraska, and McKinney, Texas. The new base at SARA will be the company’s first in the South. The company combines air transportation (through Dale Aviation) and medical staff under a single management organization to allow for careful control of the entire air ambulance transportation process.
The company’s director of medical operations, Ken Maraman, is a native of this area.
“Medical Air Rescue Company is extremely proud to enter partnerships with Andalusia Health and Mizell Memorial Hospitals for fixed wing air medical transport,” Maraman said. “Our mission is to serve our communities with friendly, efficient, and trustworthy air medical care, and we have been dedicated to that mission for almost 40 years.”
MARC will keep at least one King Air C-90 at its local facilities and expects to initially employ eight to 10 people here. In previous meetings with local leaders, Maraman explained that fixed wing air ambulance transportation is “like a flying intensive care unit.”
The City of Andalusia, SARA and Covington County Economic Development Commission have been working with MARC since late December.
“We are delighted that this service will become a reality for local residents,” Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson said. “There were a whole lot of pieces that had to come together for MARC to agree to come here, and we appreciate everyone who worked through the details. You like to think that you will never need the services of an air ambulance, but it is comforting to know that if you do, our residents will have access to fast, safe service and high-quality care.
“In our meetings with Ken Maraman, company owner Steve Dale, and director of operations Dustin Hunsaker, we have been impressed with their standards, which set them apart from other companies,” Johnson said. “We also appreciate the leadership of Andalusia Health and Mizell Memorial Hospital for working with us on this project. This will be another great asset for our community.”
Mayor Johnson also expressed his appreciation to Opp Mayor Becky Bracke for her help in working with Mizell Memorial Hospital.
Covington County Economic Development Commission President Rick Clifton said the services that will be provided by MARC will help set Covington County apart from other rural communities.
“We are happy to land MARC for our community,” Clifton said. “Their decision to locate here is truly a win-win. This service will provide air rescue options for our hospitals, which really means options for better access to specialized health care for local residents. The company also will be a boost to our South Alabama Regional Airport with hangar improvements and increased fuel sales and flights. The operation will also provide employment opportunities.”
Opp Mayor Becky Bracke said, “MARC provides our hospital and residents with air medical services which have not been available in our area. I have stood on the sidelines waiting for air transport before and know that this could literally be a difference in life or death. I am so proud that we will have this additional service in our communities.”
Covington County Commission Chairman Greg White said, “I’m very pleased with the success of this project, and the jobs it will offer our folks in Covington County. More importantly, this will bring enhanced medical services closer to our communities. I appreciate the good work of Covington County Economic Development Commission and the South Alabama Regional Airport, and I congratulate them on the success of their efforts!”
Maraman expressed his appreciation to local leaders who have worked with MARC on the project and said, “We are working with your community leaders to move this from ‘an idea to a reality.’ Our goal is to have this product operational in the coming months.”
Under the agreement approved Tuesday, the company will lease a nose-dock hangar at South Alabama Regional Airport, which it will upgrade to meet its business needs. The costs of improvement will be discounted from the company’s lease. The company will keep at least one aircraft at SARA, and will purchase fuel locally when possible.
The City of Andalusia’s Department of Leisure Services has set registration for the 2021 soccer season for August 1-15.
The league is open to ages 4-14. The co-ed teams will play in four divisions:
• Micro: Ages 4-5
• Division 1: Ages 6-8
• Division 2: Ages 9-10
• Division 3: Ages 11-14
The age cut-off date is July 31, 2021.
Registration is $35 for one child; $55 for two children; and $75 for three or more children. Scholarships are available and based on financial need. There is a $20 processing fee at the time of registration.
Ability ratings for ages 9 and up only are set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, at the Kiwanis Sports Complex.
To register, visit Johnson Park between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, August 1-15, or register online at cityofandalusia.com. (Look under “Departments” for “Leisure Services,” then “Parks and Recreation.”)
The City of Andalusia on Tuesday announced its plans to develop the historic downtown Prestwood Building in partnership with CDG Engineering, Big Mike’s, and Town and Country Boutique. The building, which dates back to the late 1800s, is located on the west side of the court square.
CDG, which was first established in Andalusia nearly 75 years ago, will develop the top floor to host its corporate and Andalusia employees.
Big Mike’s currently has steak and seafood restaurants throughout Alabama, and plans to launch a new concept featuring pizzas, salads, and wings. The new restaurant, Luie's, will occupy the south side of the ground floor, and is expected to also have outdoor dining.
Town and Country Boutique currently is located on the bypass, and will return to its roots. The boutique, which celebrates 70 years this year, began operations on the Square in 1951. Current owner Terri Jones Proctor plans to expand current offerings when the boutique moves to the north side of the ground floor.
The construction projects are expected to take about a year.
The City of Andalusia increased its net position for the sixth consecutive year, auditors told the Andalusia City Council on Tuesday.
Missy Pierce, CPA, and Gail Hayes, CPA, from Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes, P.C. presented a draft of the city’s audited financials for fiscal year 2020 Tuesday night. The council approved the draft.
Pierce said the city increased its net position by $6 million in FY 2020. The value of the City of Andalusia’s assets and deferred outflows exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows by $34,467,797 at the end of FY 2020, Pierce said.
City revenues increased by almost $3 million over the prior year, she said, and expenses decreased by $1.4 million, or 7 percent.
“The city is in the strongest financial position it has ever been in,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “This is over-the-top good news for the city, and it is because of the guidance of the council and the contributions of everyone who works for the city.”
Other highlights included:
• The City’s cash balance at Sept. 30, 2020 was $13,696,832, which was an increase of $3,172,844 from the prior fiscal year. The City’s unrestricted cash increased by $1.1 million from the prior year, and represents approximately 49 percent of the balance at year end.
• The City made payments of $1,093,110 on its long-term debt during the 2020 fiscal year.
• The City’s governmental activities reported $24,821,535 generated from taxes, program revenues, and transfers in, a 13.5 percent increase over the prior year. The program expenses for the governmental activities were $18,628,785, which is a decrease of 7 percent from the prior year. This resulted in an excess of revenues over expenses of $6,192,750.
• The City’s largest single source of revenue, sales and use tax, increased approximately $910,871 from the prior year.
Pierce said the auditors issued an unmodified opinion, “which is the best we can give.”.
The council also:
• Agreed to pursue a Community Development Block Grant to improve water lines on North Cotton and Eighth Avenue, and to resurface the streets after the water lines are updated.
• Approved a retail liquor application for The B Pub LLC, located at 239 Church Street in Andalusia.
• Appointed Seth Hammett to the Utilities Board of the City of Andalusia.
When Rose White Parker was growing up, she participated in the summer program at Andalusia’s Will Coleman Center. As a teen and an adult, she worked in the program with Coach Richard Robertson.
Much about the program is the same now as it was then. Kids ages 5 to 12 are welcome. Organized activities are the norm. Tom-foolery is not tolerated. The program is still in the the same location, but the building now also bears Robertson’s name, an honor bestowed upon him in 2020 when he retired after 49 years at the program’s helm.
And now? “Mrs. Rose,” as she is known to children young and old, is in charge.
“I just love the kids,” she said. “Kids are my blessing.”
Most of the year, she is known as the fun and funny TABS teacher at Andalusia Elementary School and Andalusia Junior High School girls basketball coach. In the summer months, she is all about the Center.
The summer program, which is free and has open enrollment through the month of June, runs from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Will Coleman and Richard Robertson Center on C.C. Baker Avenue.
“We provide three meals,” she said. “The kids get lunch at 12:30 at the Woodson Learning Center. At 2:30, we give them a snack, and at 4:45, we give them supper to take home.”
Kids can swim daily, she said, as the Center has lifeguards on duty. She has five assistants, and a number of group activities are planned for children. And while children can bring their phones with them to the center, they can only use them during meal and snack time.
“They don’t come here to sit down and look at their phones,” Mrs. Rose said. “They are either swimming or learning.”
On Fridays, she offers move day on the big screen, with popcorn and sodas.
“Some of these kids will never make it to a movie theater,” she said. “I want them to know the experience. When I was growing up, there were 11 of us, and we couldn’t go to the movies. I know what it’s like, and I want to give the kids opportunities.”
She also has launched a series, Connecting with the Community (hashtags #Connectingwiththecommunity and #letstalk) in which she invites people in the community to come and give an inspirational talk to the program participants. She would love to hear from anyone willing to do a presentation.
Parents may still enroll their children in this summer’s program. The first time a child attends, a parent must register him or her. For additional information, call Mrs. Rose at 334.208.8278.