The Andalusia City Board of Education named Alane Brunson the new principal of Andalusia Elementary School principal, effective July 1.
- Alane Brunson
Brunson currently serves as curriculum coordinator for Covington County Schools, and previously was principal of Red Level Elementary.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as the next principal of Andalusia Elementary School,” Brunson said. “I have enjoyed the past 22 years with Covington County Schools, and I am looking forward to the next phase of my career with Andalusia City Schools.
“It is my belief that the purpose of education is to help students grow and develop into productive, responsible and well-adjusted adults,” Brunson said. “This life-long process begins early in life, and I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to play a vital role in educating the youth of our community. As principal, I am looking forward to working with the faculty, staff, parents and community throughout this amazing journey.”
Superintendent Ted Watson, who recommended Brunson, said she has an excellent record, and he looks forward to having her on the ACS team.
Brunson replaces Patty Taylor, who is moving to the central office, where she will work as a curriculum and academic coordinator and reading coach.
In other personnel actions, the board:
• Rescinded the hiring of Edward Blain as an AHS science teacher. Blain was hired last month, but had taken a job elsewhere.
• Accepted resignations of Matt Mellown as special ed paraprofessional; Sandra Dendy as 8th grade social studies teacher; and Virginia Fussell as 5th grade teacher.
• Hired Tammy Pickard, as an AMS 8th grade science teacher.
• Hired Catherine Stephens, to teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade band. Stephens, who is a recent graduate of the University of South Alabama, is the daughter of two band teachers.
• Hired Howard Battey as a paraprofessional in the AHS ACCESS lab.
• Hired Bert Rice as a 10th grade history teacher at AHS. Rice has taught four years and has coached soccer and football.
Andalusia Star News
By Michele Gerlach
This is how the summer begins – not with a bang, but with a splash.That’s been the case all over Covington County this week as three public pools have opened for business.
In Andalusia, Cooper Pool on Snowden Drive is open Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $1 for students and $2 for adults. At the pool at Will Coleman Community Center on C.C. Baker Avenue, swimming hours are weekdays from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $1.
In Opp, the Hardin Street pool is now open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 4 p.m. Weekend hours are Saturday from 1 until 4 p.m. Admission is $1 for ages 6 and up, and is free to children under 6 years of age, who are accompanied by an adult.
Andalusia Star News
By: Blake Bell
A lucky person who got an orange Andy Bucks ticket at Darby’s in April could have a $3,000 shopping spree in his or her immediate future.
For the past two months, the monthly Andy Bucks winnings have gone unclaimed. If the person holding winning ticket number 628655 comes forward before 5 p.m. on June 6, 2014, he or she will win $3,000 in Andy Bucks, which can be redeemed with participating merchants.
-Michele Gerlch
Participants include Barrow’s Furniture, Beef O’Brady’s, Brooks Hardware, Christopher’s, Darby’s, David’s Catfish, Delta Lighting, Andalusia Farmer’s Co-Op, Harold’s Furniture, Ireland Trailer, Lee’s Samauri, Mary Kay Consultants, Pale Moon Yarns, Singer’s, Sporting Lifestyles, Two Guys Pies, Walker Business, Ward & Co., and Yo’ Cravin.
By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
Andalusia Star News
A crowd of more than 40 people listened to current officials and those seeking election this year at Covington County Day, held on the lawn of the Chamber Thursday.
The City of Andalusia is Alabama’s best, and committed to being better.
Andalusia City Schools want to be known for excellence.
And the State of Alabama is improving.
Those are the messages those gathered for the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce’s first Covington County Day heard from Mayor Earl Johnson, Superintendent Ted Watson and Sen. Jimmy Holley.
“Andalusia is Alabama’s top town,” Johnson said. “And that’s not just the mayor stating that. We were selected by an independent survey of small towns in America. We were that top Alabama town and the 33rd best small town in which to live in America. That is an amazing phenomenon to happen to our community.
“We have embraced that, we believe it, and we won’t be happy until we are the No. 1 small town in America,” the mayor said.
Johnson said the city’s gross receipts, sales taxes and business licenses are all up.
“That’s a good measure of the health of our economy,” he said. “It means our economy is growing.”
Johnson said city leaders continue to concentrate on retail development, and to work on quality of life issues that make the city attractive to potential residents.
“Andalusia is Alabama’s top town, and it’s my intention to keep it that way,” he said.... READ MORE>
Would local residents be more likely to walk to Andalusia Elementary School or to Johnson Park?
That was the question members of the Andalusia City Council debated in a special meeting Monday before ultimately decided to seek funding for sidewalks to Johnson Park.
The council had already agreed to seek additional grant funding for sidewalks from the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Engineer Jeremy McMath of Civil Southeast Engineering proposed either extending sidewalks from Dunson Street to AES on Snowden and Moore Road; or to write the grant o extend sidewalks down Stanley Avenue past Johnson Park to the Andalusia Memorial Cemetery. A portion of Lindsey Bridge Road also would get new sidewalks.
“My quick observation is that kids don’t walk to school anymore,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “They have buses and parents that take them. Snowden Drive and Moore Road don’t exactly meet, so there is a problem there. In my opinion, South Three Notch St. is too wide and too busy for children to try to cross there unattended.”
McMath said he believed the Stanley Avenue project also is more likely to be funded.
Council members expressed concern about the speeds at which people travel on Stanley Avenue/Hwy. 55, and agreed they would also petition the state to lower the speed limit if the project is funded.
Andalusia Star News
By Michele Gerlach