Mayor Earl Johnson issued a friendly warning to area residents who are in the habit of speeding, littering, racing, and creating a commotion downtown: Continue, and you will receive a ticket.

Several residents of the downtown area attended Tuesday’s council meeting and voiced concerns about the noise and potential for danger posed by those who congregate in downtown parking lots, and drag race when they leave.

“We don’t want to hear vulgar songs playing loudly when we sit outside,” one of the residents said. “It’s gotten out of hand.”

Mayor Johnson said he appreciated the professionalism and courtesy of those who expressed their concerns.

“These citizens came in a courteous fashion to complain about noise; fast, dangerous driving in their neighborhood; littering; boisterous yelling, screaming and foul language that can be heard all over the community; and leaving at high speeds and racing. We’re going to put a stop to it,” the mayor said.

Section 15-17 of the City’s Code of Ordinances states that “No person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others in the city. It shall also be unlawful and a nuisance for any person to make or permit to be made any such noise by any motor vehicle in his control or upon any premises owned or possessed by him or under his management or control.”

It further states that compression release engine brakes, and unreasonable sound amplification from a vehicle are violations of the ordinance.

“We have tried to use a soft touch, and it hasn’t worked. We’re going to get strict and we’re going to write some tickets.

“Some folks will be mad about it, and some mamas and daddies mad about it when their children are ticketed, but that’s the way it’s gonna be,” he said. “We have the potential that somebody will be killed or hurt seriously, and we don’t want that to happen.

“We spend thousands of dollars picking up and cleaning up behind people so that our community looks good, and I’m tired of that. I’d rather spend that money on something rather than picking up trash left by people who don’t care about our community,” he said.

Johnson also said the city will soon add more cameras to assist in gathering evidence, and that fines will likely increase in the near future.

“We’re going to give them one warning,” he said. “After that, citations will be written. We’re also going to look at all of our ordinances, consider the fines for these offenses, and most probably, and most probably those fine levels will be increased.”

A delicious meal, fashion show, silent auction and comedy are on the menu for this year’s Little Black Dress event benefiting the Covington County Imagination Library. The event is set for June 17 at the Andalusia Country Club.

Artist, writer and stand-up comedian JJ Barrows will bring the laughs.

Barrows recently relocated to Chattanooga from Santa Barbara, CA. In the bio on her website, she wrote, “I’m in recovery from being a middle child, a preacher’s kid, a co-dependent, a people-pleaser, being mis-understood when I said no the first time, being broken-hearted one too many times, an aggressive eating disorder, an adult child of a dysfunctional family, divorced parents and severe depression…All of which is kinda funny now that I’ve been to rehab (twice) and processed it so much in therapy that I think even my therapist started seeing a therapist.”

She is a huge fan of Dolly Parton, and sells her “Dolly Carton” themed artwork on Etsy, which uses egg cartons to create likenesses of the singer.

Barrows also has published a book, “It’s called a spade.”

The Covington County Imagination Library delivers one book per month to children in the county from birth until kindergarten, meaning that children begin school with a collection of 60 books.

In addition to the annual Little Black Dress fundraiser, the organization is funded with generous contributions from local trusts and civic organizations.

Tickets are $100 per person, or $500 for a table of six.

The auction and cocktail hour begin at 6 p.m. on Sat., April 13, with dinner and entertainment following at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at Harold’s.

Mayor Earl Johnson issued a friendly warning to area residents who are in the habit of speeding, littering, racing, and creating a commotion downtown: Continue, and you will receive a ticket.

Several residents of the downtown area attended Tuesday’s council meeting and voiced concerns about the noise and potential for danger posed by those who congregate in downtown parking lots, and drag race when they leave.

“We don’t want to hear vulgar songs playing loudly when we sit outside,” one of the residents said. “It’s gotten out of hand.”

Mayor Johnson said he appreciated the professionalism and courtesy of those who expressed their concerns.

“These citizens came in a courteous fashion to complain about noise; fast, dangerous driving in their neighborhood; littering; boisterous yelling, screaming and foul language that can be heard all over the community; and leaving at high speeds and racing. We’re going to put a stop to it,” the mayor said.

Section 15-17 of the City’s Code of Ordinances states that “No person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others in the city. It shall also be unlawful and a nuisance for any person to make or permit to be made any such noise by any motor vehicle in his control or upon any premises owned or possessed by him or under his management or control.”

It further states that compression release engine brakes, and unreasonable sound amplification from a vehicle are violations of the ordinance.

“We have tried to use a soft touch, and it hasn’t worked. We’re going to get strict and we’re going to write some tickets.

“Some folks will be mad about it, and some mamas and daddies mad about it when their children are ticketed, but that’s the way it’s gonna be,” he said. “We have the potential that somebody will be killed or hurt seriously, and we don’t want that to happen.

“We spend thousands of dollars picking up and cleaning up behind people so that our community looks good, and I’m tired of that. I’d rather spend that money on something rather than picking up trash left by people who don’t care about our community,” he said.

Johnson also said the city will soon add more cameras to assist in gathering evidence, and that fines will likely increase in the near future.

“We’re going to give them one warning,” he said. “After that, citations will be written. We’re also going to look at all of our ordinances, consider the fines for these offenses, and most probably, and most probably those fine levels will be increased.”

The Rev. Eric Mancil, rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, was the guest speaker for this year’s Memorial Day service held at the Covington Veterans Monument on the campus of Andalusia’s City Hall.

Rev. Mancil used the words of Christ from the 15^th Chapter of the Gospel of John: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

In the ancient Greek texts, he said, there are many words for love. In this instance, it is "agape".

“Agape is divine or unconditional love,” he said. “It is sacrificial love for the well-being of others without expecting anything in return.

“There’s no greater love than to sacrifice one’s self for the good and well-being of another,” he said. “That’s why we’re here today – to honor those brave men and women throughout history who made the choice to serve and protect, who embodied agape love by giving up their own lives so that we may continue to live in a land of freedom and peace.

“It’s important for us to remember that they were not just soldiers or service members. They were also sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. They were part of a network of love and relationships, cherished by their families and friends.

“So while we remember our fallen heroes on this day, let us also remember the sacrifices made by their loved ones, those who continue to bear the weight of loss.

“And finally,” he said, “as we honor the fallen let us also recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and peace among all people. Jesus taught us to love one another, to love our enemies, and to seek reconciliation. In a world often divided by conflicts and strife, we can be instruments of peace, striving to promote understanding and to respect the dignity of every human being.”

Father Mancil quoted a Memorial Day prayer written by the Rt. Rev. Carl Wright, who served as the Episcopal bishop of the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries from 2017 to 2022:

“Almighty and Most Merciful God: We give you thanks for all Americans who have served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and civilians who in the time of war answered our nation’s call and gave the ultimate sacrifice of their very lives to secure the freedoms we enjoy. We thank you for our political, military, medical and spiritual leaders who made their best efforts in support of these heroic men and women. We thank you also for the families who stood by them and loved them to the end. On this day of memorial, we pray your special blessing upon all military members who have died and upon those who remember them. May we some day follow their godly example and take comfort in your holy admonition that ‘Greater love has no one than this: that they lay down their lives for their friends.’ Amen.

Mayor Earl Johnson served as emcee for the event. Hannah Cross sang the National Anthem, Sammy Glover worded the closing prayer, and Johnny Brewer played “Taps.”