Via: Andalusia Star News
Work will soon get under way on Andalusia’s sixth mural, and by January, visitors will be able to listen to a narrative about each mural with a simple cell phone call.
Murals committee chairwoman Pat Palmore shared that news with the Andalusia City Council Tuesday night, which voted to fund the prep work for the newest mural.
Palmore said the next mural will be located adjacent to the recently restored Alatex building, which is now home to the Chamber of Commerce and serves as a welcome center. Many photographs from the Alatex era are displayed there.
“There is a wall there built for this purpose that also serves as a retaining wall,” she said. “The surface has to be sealed so that no water, moisture, or anything can get through to the mural.
“The artist doesn’t think it would be a problem, but there is a possibility there could be some cracks in the wall that would allow seepage at some point,” she said.
The mural artist, Wes Hardin, has designed a background for the mural to be painted on the retaining wall. The new mural will actually be a series of panels attached to the wall, but not positioned flat against it.
“One advantage is that if we don’t have the money raised, we can just do the first three panels until we raise the rest of the money,” she said.
The murals will tell the story of a shirt, Palmore said.
“It touches on steps in the manufacturing of a shirt, and what’s involved,” she said. “But it also shows how Covington County was involved in so many different areas.”
The panels will depict cotton being grown; the ginning process; producing fabric in a mill; following the steps in the sewing process from the cutting to the finished shirt, she said.
While Alatex didn’t use locally-grown cotton and locally-made fabric as it became one of the largest producers of men’s dress shirts, those processes were done here by other companies.
“We always have a narrative, and in our narrative, we will tell how other things were manufactured in Andalusia,” Palmore said.... READ MORE>
Via: Andalusia Star News
The City of Andalusia received high marks in its 2011-2012 audit, CPA Ken Odom of Rabren, Odom, Pierce and Hayes reported Tuesday night.
“The highest report that can be given is an unqualified report,” Odom said. “I’m not allowed by professional standards to give you an atta boy, but if I could, I would have put one in there.”
Odom said the audit, approved yesterday, gives “a very good overview of where city is at 2012.”
Odom reminded council members that an audit is merely a “snapshot in time,” and that some items that look like expenditures are really “just transferring money from the left pocket to the right pocket.”
For instance, several entries reflect grants received by the city for the Utilities Board. The transfer of funds shows up as an expenditure.
“You had over $12.5 million in revenue, and over $15 million in expenditures. That’s not necessarily bad, it’s just a snapshot in time.”
Based on his review, he said, the city’s sales taxes continue to increase.
“That’s the largest source of revenue,” he said. “Let me assure you from looking at the city’s financial report and knowing what you would like to do, you are to be commended for taking hard stance... READ MORE>
Via: Andalusia Star News
Stitches are just in Louise Walker’s blood.
The former travel nurse is the owner of Pale Moon Yarns – Andalusia’s newest arts and crafts supply store.
Located across from the Andalusia Public Library, Walker has transformed the storefront into a rainbow-colored collection of fibers and a welcoming site for creativity.
“I’ve knitted and crocheted forever,” Walker said. “When my husband took the job teaching at the middle school, I had just been offered a director of nursing position in Iowa. I couldn’t do that to my family, and when we got to Andalusia, we fell in love.
“But there was no place to feed my hobby,” she said.
With the introduction of Pinterest and other crafting sites, the interest in crafting has exploded, and after realizing she had to travel outside the area to sites in Fairhope and Mobile to get her yarn supplies, Walker said she decided to capitalize on both the love of the hobby.
“The great thing about knitting and crocheting is that anyone can do it,” Walker said. “Once you get the basics down, your only limit is your imagination.”
Walker said she has made everything from socks and scarves to vests, hats and gloves.
“But not a lot of sweaters,” she said. “Those take too long, and I wouldn’t want to give them away.”
Inside the store, one will find all the necessary... READ MORE>
Andalusia’s Huhtamaki announced a $1.9 million expansion project Tuesday that will add 13 new employees to the payroll.
Known locally as the “box factory,” the former Paris Packaging plant employed 20 in 2001. It was acquired by the Huhtamaki Group, whose North America segment is a leading manufacturer of packaging for the foodservice industry and retail markets. Current employment has grown to 49, corporate officials said.
New machinery and equipment installed as part of the expansion will be used to promote continuous operation and growth by the company that manufactures folded cartons and related products and improvement of its flexographic printing capabilities.
Huhtamaki North America is a leading manufacturer of consumer goods packaging as well as tableware, cups, folding cartons, containers, carriers, trays and serviceware for the foodservice industry and retail markets. Its product portfolio includes Chinet®.
Rick Clifton, president and CEO of the Covington County Economic Development Commission, said the plant is a continuing example of how a public/private partnership can work for the benefit of all.
“Huhtamaki has shown its commitment to this plant and our community,” Clifton said. “We hope this is just the beginning and will lead to more expansion as business grows.”
Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson said it was “more great news for Andalusia.”
“With Steven Dendy’s leadership and his staff’s hard work, experience, and dedication, Huhtamaki continues to excel,” Johnson said. “Andalusia is fortunate to have such a winner as Huhtamaki in our community and we look forward to its continued success.”
- Andalusia Star News