Sherry Johnston wants to help area residents trace their histories.
The veteran library genealogist recently joined the staff of the Andalusia Public Library. Johnston’s library and genealogy career began when she joined the Evergreen Public Library as a part-time employee.
“I did everything from watering plants to going up the stairs because I was the youngest or most agile,” she said. “A gentleman who was in the family history aspect was getting ready to retire and asked if I would be interested in learning about it.
“It turned out, I had a natural niche for it,” she said. “I have a photographic memory, so if I see a family tree, it stays with me.”
From the genealogy work, she became interested in cemetery preservation, and wrote columns for the local newspaper. Historic preservation became a part of her work and interests, and she gained a reputation as a household name for helping with historic research.
She retired from the Evergreen Library in April of 2021 with grand plans to stay at home and do as she pleased, perhaps assisting with research as a side line of work. But that plan was short lived when she was invited to do some work with the Thomas E. McMillan Museum on the campus of Coastal Community College (formerly Jefferson Davis Community College) in Brewton.
“I did that from January until August of this year,” she said. “One day Curtis (Thomasson) and I were talking and he suggested maybe I could come here and help.”
Thomasson, who has written a genealogy column for The Star-News for decades, contacted Mona Simon, library director, and put Johnston and Simon together.
“I came to talk with her, not with the idea of being hired, but with suggestions about the kind of person she would be looking for to work in the department,” Johnston said.
But Simon convinced her to apply for the job part-time.
“So I did, and here I am,” she said.
Since early August, Johnston has been busy re-organizing the genealogy area, which fell into disarray when everything was moved to install new flooring. Linda Grimes had managed the area for years before her illness and subsequent death. With her loss, there was no one who knew about genealogy to restore order to the department.
“I am trying to introduce new methods of research with the use of technology, which is very user friendly,” Johnston said. “I’m also researching and getting to know more about local families.”
Through the Alabama Public Library Service, patrons can use library computers to access Ancestry, Heritage Hub, and other data hubs at no charge.
“We don’t have those services available for remote access at this time,” she said. “We also just got Proquest, which is a newspaper database. That’s a biggie. The days of going through pages and pages of old newspapers are gone.”
If someone wanted to visit APL for assistance with genealogy research, he should first decide who he wants to research, she said.
For instance, if someone chose to research his grandfather, John Doe, he would need to bring whatever information he had – like birth, death, marriage or military records.
“From there, we would develop a plan,” she said. “It’s kind of like a book report. You want to focus on one thing at a time, and organize it, so that you have a readable story at the end.”
Sometimes, she said, searches start at the end, with information found at cemeteries.
“That information can take us back to the beginning,” she said.
Johnston said the local library has many resources on file, like local city directories and church histories, as well as a good selection for military records.
“Most of that is online through Ancestry,” she said.
Many of Alabama’s Baptist Church records are at Samford University, while Methodist Church records are at Huntingdon College.
“These can be helpful if you had a relative who was distrustful of Census workers, but went to church,” she said.
The library also is growing its Native American and African American resources, she said, and will accept documents like store ledgers, church memberships, of photographs that people might be willing to donate.
Johnston is in the library 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and can be reached by email at .
McDermott Air, LLC and Isolair, Inc. are pleased to announce the location of their business operations to the South Alabama Regional Airport in Covington County, Alabama, USA.
McDermott Aviation Pty. Ltd. was established back in 1982, beginning operations as an Aerial Application specialist company. Since then, they have grown into Australia’s largest privately-owned helicopter company – while still operating out of their original premises on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
They have evolved over 35 years from providing purely Aerial Application operations, to operating Australia’s largest fleet of privately-owned helicopters, and are currently the industry leaders in Lifting/Aerial Crane Operations, Mosquito and Fire Ant control application, Search and Rescue Operations, Aerial Application, VIP Charter and Freight, and of course Aerial Fire Fighting – currently holding one of the greatest number of NAFC Aerial Fire Fighting contracts in Australia, and pride themselves on their level of Fire Fighting ability, performance and customer service. (https://www.mcdermottaviation.com)
McDermott Aviation saw an opportunity to further expand their business and has just completed the acquisition of 12 Bell 214 ST helicopters. They needed a North American operation center and have landed at the South Alabama Regional Airport in Covington County, Alabama, USA.
John McDermott, president, said, “We had a local contact tell us about the South Alabama Regional Airport and the reception we received was amazing! Working with Jed Blackwell, Airport Executive Director, Rick Clifton with the Covington County Economic Development Commission, and local officials made our difficult acquisition and site location decision a lot easier. We are happy to be a part of the Covington County community.”
Joining McDermott Air is Isolair, Inc. Founded in the early 1980′s, Isolair was created to satisfy customers’ needs for helicopter equipment superior to those that were found on the market. In 1998, current owner Michael Powell purchased the company, and Isolair has continued to see consistent growth. Michael and his wife, Terry, have guided Isolair to sales that are in the millions of dollars yearly. With the increasing reliance upon helicopters throughout the world, Isolair is well-positioned to propel the helicopter application industry throughout the next decade, and beyond, with one goal in mind: design and manufacture equipment to fulfill the customer’s needs.
Isolair has been manufacturing quality helicopter systems for the firefighting, agricultural, and forest industry for the past 40 years. Their products include agricultural spray systems, to seeders, torches, buckets, forestry grapples and fire-fighting equipment. For more about them, visit http://www.isolairinc.com/index.php
Isolair, Inc. and McDermott Aviation have been business partners for years and the fit is natural.
“We saw the opportunity to grow our business by relocating to Covington County. We have found that Alabama is truly business friendly and that is exactly what we need as we make this big transition,” said Michael Powell, President of Isolair. “My wife, Terry, and I are looking forward to making Covington County home.”
The project was negotiated and approved by the Covington County Economic Development Commission, the South Alabama Regional Airport Board, the Covington County Commission and the cities of Opp and Andalusia.
Jed Blackwell, executive director of the South Alabama Regional Airport, was excited about their new partners.
“McDermott Aviation and Isolair locating at our MRO hangar is a big boost for our airport and our community. The jobs they offer will create opportunities for workers throughout our region. Thanks, John and Michael for making South Alabama your headquarters!”
The companies will employ around 30 people and are looking for qualified A&P certified applicants to maintain and grow their Bell fleet and manufacturing facility. For employment opportunities, please forward your resume and application to Isolair Inc.:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT in accordance with Code of Alabama§ 23-4-20, on the 1st day of November, 2022, at 6:00 o'clock p.m. in Council Chambers at Andalusia City Hall, 505 East Three Notch Street, Andalusia, AL 36420, the City Council of the City of Andalusia, Alabama will hold a public hearing on a petition by Christ the King Parish to vacate Brown Street in the City of Andalusia. The street proposed to be vacated is described as Brown Street, lying between Through Street and Allison Street and bordered on the North by Lots 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 in Block B, and bordered on the South by Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in Block D, and Lot 8 in Block C, all in the Fairgrounds Subdivision, in the City of Andalusia, Alabama, as shown by Plat Book 2, Page 15 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Covington County, Alabama.
THE CITY OF ANDALUSIA
M. Thompson, City Clerk-Treasurer
The City of Andalusia’s Adult Activity Center and Senior Nutrition staff members are seeking sponsors for their annual Praying Hands program.
The staff organizes the gift drive for senior citizens each fall, making sure that no seniors are forgotten at Christmas.
Adult Activity Center director Sonja Godwin said she and other staff members have asked clients who might be in need to complete questionnaires about their Christmas wishes.
“Typically, we ask people to come by and pick up an information sheet on a senior from our Praying Hands tree,” Godwin said. “This year, we are seeking helpers to make Christmas special for at least 56 individuals, all of whom are 60 years or older and many of whom are homebound.”
The AAC staff is asking adopters to participate in one of two ways.
“You can call our office at 222-6891 to choose your praying hands revealing a senior’s wishes,” Godwin said. “We ask that you spend no less than $40 per person.”
Alternately, she said, individuals can make a financial contribution and the AAC staff will shop for the senior adults. Gifts should be dropped at the Adult Activity Center no later than Friday, November 18.
For additional information, call Godwin at 222-6891 or email her at .