The City of Andalusia announced Friday it has scored the biggest grand slam of the fundraising initiative for the Miracle League Project – a $40,000 grant by the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
The funds, which are given through a joint initiative of the Major League Baseball Player’s Association and Major League Baseball, will support the establishment of the Miracle League of Covington County for children with disabilities by providing funds for the development of an accessible field in Johnson Park.
“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund appreciates the City of Andalusia’s commitment to offer youth baseball and softball opportunities for all players in its community,” said Cathy Bradley, executive director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. “We are proud to support the growth of accessible programs across the country.”
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the MLB Players Association and MLB designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses. Since its formation by MLB and the MLBPA in 1999, BTF has awarded more than 620 grants totaling more than $22 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Bradley commended the city’s recent $1.5 million redevelopment of eight youth baseball and softball fields at Johnson Park.
As part of the Miracle League project to serve children with disabilities and support an existing T-ball program, the city will replace one of the youth field’s turf with a rubberized surface that will benefit an estimated 400 players.
“This is a wonderful opportunity, not only for our program, but for the children who play the game,” said Dwight Mikel, project coordinator. “It is fantastic that the Baseball Tomorrow Fund recognizes the importance of providing special needs children in Covington County an opportunity to experience the great game of baseball.”
Other major supporters of the project include the Solon & Martha Dixon Foundation, Andalusia Rotary Club, Taylor Linen Services and the Jones Family. For a complete list of those who have donated, see Page 2.
Those interested in making a donation may contact Barbara Tyler at 428-1127 or mail to Miracle League of Covington County, P.O. Box 1971, Andalusia, AL 36420.
Currently, the project has more than $200,000 in pledges and $125,000 cash in hand.
The Andalusia Board of Education voted Wednesday to select Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood as the architect for its new middle school buildings at the elementary and high schools.
After more than a year of discussions, debates, planning and multiple architectural renderings, the board decided the architectural company was the best fit for its projects.
The board announced in July 2011 that it would close Andalusia Middle School and place sixth grade students at Andalusia Elementary School and seventh and eighth graders at the high school – a move that would require additional space at both schools.
“I appreciate the input and the time you’ve put into making this decision,” Superintendent Ted Watson said. “It has been a very difficult decision, at least for me to make this recommendation.
“I feel that Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood will offer us the best product for this particular project,” he said. “I hope that you will allow me to talk to them.”
Board Member Amy Dugger made the motion and David Bryant seconded it. It passed unanimously.
“We’ve worked with all four,” said board president Dr. Bill King. “I think they are the best suited for our project.”
Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood architects estimated the two projects would cost $5.39 million. They first proposed a two-story structure reminiscent of AHS be built on the campus for AMS, an idea that so resonated with board members that they had other firms submit new proposals with two-story facilities.
Still, Watson said, “now it’s just a matter of making it fit with what we need.”
“What the architects have given is their interpretation based on the square footage we gave them,” he said. “Now we’ll hone it into what we want and can afford.”
Watson said he hopes to solicit bids for the project by the first of the year.
“We hope to be done with it between February and April 2014 and move in by the fall of the year,” he said.
The project is being paid for by a $5.5 million bond issue, in which the City of Andalusia of Andalusia has pledged 2.5 mills per year of property taxes for the duration.
Almost 200 memorial bricks have been purchased to date for the national apparel workers’ monument planned in Andalusia.
The bricks will be part of the monument, which will be dedicated at the former corporate headquarters of Alatex on Labor Day. The deadline for purchasing bricks to be in place in time for the dedication is Aug. 10, 2012. Bricks may be placed after this date, but will not be installed before the dedication.
The building currently is being renovated to become the new home of the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce and a tourist center.
In the years between 1923 and 1992, Alatex and Andala employed up to 1,500 people in Andalusia, and more than 3,000 total employees. The company also had plants in Troy, Brantley, Enterprise, Evergreen, Elba, Montgomery, Crestview and Panama City.
Checks can be mailed to Alatex Memorial, P.O. Box 429, Andalusia, AL, or delivered to Andalusia City Hall. Forms are available on the City of Andalusia web site, www.cityofandalusia.com.
Previously, The Star-News published a list of about 100 people for whom bricks have been purchased. Additional bricks have been purchased since then for:
• Bill Andress, Mechanic
• Barbara Aughtman, Customer Service
• Leosia M. Black, Inspector
• Agnes Blair, Cuff Dept.
• Mable Brawner, Secretary/Treasurer
• Lodelle B. Carter, Switch Board Operator
• Luria Castleberry, Unit D
• Ann S. Castleberry, Andala-2nd Floor
• Joe Cook, Accounting Dept.
• Lillie Ray Cottle, Collar Dept.
• Eleanor Crews, Quality Control
• Rebecca Enzor Cross, Data Processing
• Charles Dawson, Enterprise Plant Manager
• Eloise J. Dye, Laundry Dept.
• Beatrice M. Eiland, Inserted Sleeves
• Billie Sue Ellis, Laundry Supervisor
• H. Paul Enzor, Jr., G.M. Prod. Planning
• Ovvie Deloach Enzor, Unit D
• Bernice J. Findley, Sew Center Plaits
• Harmon M. Findley, Machine Mechanic
• Robert C. Floyd, Jr., Engineering
• Lucile H. Fore, Collar/Cuff Dept
• Jenelle W. Franklin, Accounting Dept.
• Mary Eliz. Gantt, Andala Supervisor
• Van Garvin, Maintenance
• Ruby Brown Garvin, Head Supervisor
• Wade W. Glaze, Shipping
• Ola Glaze, Supervisor
• Ruby Godwin, Collar Dept.
• Juanita Gomillion, Andala Collar Dept.
• Bernice Gomillion, Andala Cuff Dept.
• James W. Gomillion, Cutting Dept.
• Gail Grissett, Alatex Plant Manager
• James W. Grissett, E.D.P. Dept.
• Zonie C. Helms, Andala Pants Dept.
• James F. Henderson, Mechanic
• Margaret Holmes, Laundry Dept.
• John Huckabaa, Collar Dept.
• Margie D. Hudson,
• Glenda K. Johns, Assembly Dept.
• Mary Keefe, Payroll Dept.
• Lucile Kendrick, Collar Dept.
• Aubrey Kendrick, Cutting Room
• Lurlene Mahaffey, Supervisor
• Golden Mahaffey, Mechanic
• Georgia L. Mathews, Secretary
• Miss Clyde May, Button Dept.
• Eula E. Messick, Unit B
• Rudolph Messick, Accounting Dept.
• Jesse J. Messick, Mechanic
• Mildred K. Moore, Sampler Inspector
• Rowena Perdue, Shoulder Joiner
• J. Forest Powell, Shipping
• Daniel E. Powell, Trucking
• Louise Reeves Rabren, Presser
• Annie K. Reeves, Cuff Dept.
• Emma Enzor Rodgers, Collar Dept.
• Beulah Fay Ross, Collar Dept.
• Mildred S. Sasser, Alatex Collar Dept.
• Linda M. Sconiers, Collar Attacher Dept.
• Lucille Cook Seymour, Andala Cuff Dept.
• Bascom C. Smith, Mechanic
• Ophelia A. Smith, Executive Secretary
• Jean M. Smithart, Assembly Dept.
• Mattie Smyly, Payroll Dept.
• Clarence A. Snowden, Guard
• Mittie E. Snowden, Laundry Dept.
• Bobby Soles, V.P. Manufacturing
• Donald E. Southwell, Crestview Plant Manager
• John L. Sowell, Machine Mechanic
• Benny J. Strength, V.P. Manufacturing
• Hilda Thomasson, Unit A Cuff Dept.
• Rosalyn H. Tiller, Personnel Dept.
• Maud D. Traweek, Unit D
• Pastine Turner, Laundry Dept.
• Shirley Veasey, Office
• Norma Veasey, Unit D
• Myrtle Ruth Walker, Laundry Dept.
• Estelle Ward, Laundry Dept.
• Bertie C. Ward, Marking Dept.
• Bertie Warren, Andala Pockets
• Carolyn C. Warren, Secretary
• Voncile F. Williams, Laundry Dept.
• Charles Williams, Cutting Dept.
• J.H. Williams, Cutting Dept.
• Foy Woodham, Cutting Dept.
• Calvin Cecil Wyatt, Pattern Maker
Starting today, it’s against the law to text, email, update one’s Facebook status or tweet while driving.
Now, it will take “common sense” policing when enforcing, local law enforcement said.
Alabama is now the 38th state in the U.S. with a law banning texting and driving.
The fines aren’t steep – $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second, and $75 for a third. But coupled with being pulled over by law enforcement, getting two penalty points on your driver’s license and a possible auto insurance hike, it is more than inconvenient, said state Rep. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, who pushed the bill signed into law by the governor in May.
Entering a phone number and talking on the phone is still legal. Using a GPS navigation device will be legal, but programming it while driving is not.
And officers will be watching as motorists travel through Florala, Police Chief Sonny Bedsole said.
“Our officers are going to have to use common sense when enforcing this law,” Bedsole said. “If they witness a driver texting, then they are duty bound to enforce the law.”
Bedsole said if a driver elects to go to court over the charge rather than pay the fine, then the decision rests with the judge.
Sheriff Dennis Meeks agreed with Bedsole’s description of “common sense” policing.
“We’re going to enforce it to the best of our ability,” Meeks said of deputies with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office. “We do encourage people to not text and drive for all the apparent reasons – it takes your focus away from the road, not to mention it’s now against the law.
“Things can happen very quickly when you’re operating a vehicle,” he said. “Texting while driving is dangerous because it takes your focus away from your driving and it cuts down your reaction time to things that are happening on the road way.
“It’s just not safe,” he said.
Alabama State Troopers will also be watching for violators – just as they watch for violators of any law, said Trooper spokesman Charles J. Dysart.
Dysart said research shows distracted drivers can commit multiple offenses, such as drifting across lanes and driving into opposing lanes of traffic. Drivers “distracted by use of an electronic device” were a contributing factor in 1,256 crashes and five deaths in 2010, the latest available statistics, he said.
Texting and driving, however, is the one distraction attracting the most legal attention nationwide – mainly because it often involves younger, less experienced drivers, and it combines all the major distractions – eyes, hands and mind, said Despina Stavrinos, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“We pick on text messaging because it is what researchers call the perfect storm – it involves all three,” Stavrinos said.
Andalusia’s new CVS/pharmacy will open in September, corporate officials said Wednesday.
Michael J, DeAngelis, the corporate director of public relations, said the store still plans to employ approximately 20 people at the new 12,900 square-foot store be located at the corner of U.S. Hwy. 84 and East Three Notch. Residents are sure to have noticed work at the site where the Barrow’s Furniture warehouse used to sit. On Wednesday, there were crews working both inside the stone block structure and at the former warehouse next door.
According to the corporate website, sites are chosen based on a number of criteria points, including a highly visible and easy accessible location in a high traffic area with parking room for 75 to 80 vehicles.
The city’s director of planning and zoning Andy Wiggins said at a recent ground breaking ceremony, corporate officials announced an August opening date.
Wiggins said Wednesday he believes recent rains have played a part in the construction delay and the old “Malfunction Junction” is no more.
“The road has been closed from the end of the building to the bypass,” he said. “In that process, once we got involved, we found that some of the property was in easements, meaning people still had ownership of the property. But, with the help of local attorneys, we got that cleared up and the property transferred to the city.
“Also, we had to petition the state to get the additional right-of-way on the bypass,” he said. “All that did take a while to get accomplished, but that was done before construction at the site started.”