A tip called in to the Covington County Probation and Paroles office Thursday morning led to a multi-county, multi-agency investigation and the shutdown of government buildings throughout Covington County.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said that someone called the Probation and Parole Office in the Covington County Courthouse Thursday morning and stated two people had a plan to blow up a government building. The caller gave two names.

At least two people are in custody as a result of the ensuing investigation.

Meeks said Thursday afternoon that two people were taken into custody in a traffic stop on Hwy. 84 near Wicksburg, and one of the people in custody was identified in the original call. When the vehicle was stopped, bomb-sniffing dogs hit on duffel bags in the vehicle. The suspects were turned over to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office.

Later in the day, Dothan media reported, a bomb squad detonated “potentially dangerous” materials at the scene of the traffic stop.

Meanwhile, bomb-sniffing dogs from Bay County were used to check the courthouse, which was cleared late Thursday afternoon. Similarly, all city buildings were searched and cleared.

Late yesterday, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department was at a residence on Coffee County 723, and Houston County’s sheriff told Dothan media the Coffee County investigation was related to the Covington and Houston county incidents.

All government and school operations will resume at regular times today.

- Andalusia Star News

Sales taxes inside the City of Andalusia will likely increase by 1.5 percent beginning in July.

The city council Tuesday night had the first reading of an ordinance expected to raise an additional $3 million per year. One percent of the additional sales tax, or approximately $2 million, will first be used by the city as matching funds for grants, and one-half percent, or about $1 million per year, will go to the Andalusia City School System. (Click here for details)

The earliest the council could vote on the proposed ordinance is at its next scheduled meeting, Tues., May 21. If approved, the city’s sales tax would increase from 2 percent to 3.5 percent on July 1.

In proposing the tax increase, Mayor Earl Johnson enumerated extensive future funding needs he expects for the city.

“The first need on the city’s side is we’ve got to raise the matching funds for the South Three Notch grant coming from ATRIP funds,” he said. “A few months ago, we got an $8.6 million grant from ATRIP, the fourth largest grant in the state.

“That project is more than $10 million, which means that for the city’s matching portion, we’re gonna have to raise in excess of $2 million.”

The mayor said that, initially, the city will set aside the additional one-cent revenue in a fund to pay the matching portions of the ATRIP grant ($2 million), as well as a grant to improve Feagin Avenue ($250,000), until those projects are done.”

“After that is completed, we have work literally all over this city that we’re never going to get a grant for, because the neighborhoods simply will not qualify,” Johnson said. “We’ve got storm water runoff problems in areas not eligible for grant. I’m not going to call out any specific neighborhood, but say that these projects will be done in a fashion that’s fair to everybody around the city.”

Johnson said the city also needs to address wage and salary issues, particularly in the fire department and police department.

He said the additional revenue also will put the city in a position of being able to reduce its long-term debt.

If approved, Andalusia’s sales tax would be at the average of Alabama cities of similar size, Johnson said. (See information box). In a sampling of 39 cities Andalusia’s size or larger, the average city sales tax is 3.5 percent.

“If we don’t do anything, we can continue down the same road we’re going,” Johnson said. “We can quit doing anything other than paying our bills, or borrow a huge chunk of money which I don’t think is wise at this point.

“Or, we can find an additional source of revenue. That’s what I’m going to recommend to the council we do.”

- Andalusia Star News

APD’s Jason Curry demonstrates how the ANDROS works.

Hours before Thursday’s bomb threat drama unfolded, the Andalusia Police Department demonstrated its newest gadget – two Remotec ANDROS units designed to defuse bombs.

Sgt. Jason Curry said the devices, which are valued at $160,000 each, were obtained free through the U.S. military’s Defense Logistic’s Agency disposition services.

“These robots are designed to respond in situations that would put human life in danger – like a bomb or a standoff with a barricaded subject,” Curry said.

Made by the Northrop Grumman Corp., the website states “military, EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), HazMat (Hazardous Materials), SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), law enforcement agencies and other first responders worldwide rely on Remotec ANDROS robots to help assure a safe, successful outcome for their most challenging missions.”

The devices are equipped with video and audio, and have the capability to be fitted with other wares such as power tools or even a weapon.

Curry said the devices work three ways – manually, wirelessly or via hardwire. Each is operated through a mobile command center, either on site or in a departmental vehicle.

“We can use this device wirelessly up to a mile away from the incident or it can be used hardwired with a fiber-optic cable up to 300 feet away,” he said.

Curry said use of the devices is not law enforcement specific.

“It’s great in a haz mat situation, too,” he said. “We could also use it search and rescue where there are spaces that it’s not feasible to send someone or if we need to get food or water in to them.”

The devices were not needed during Thursday’s events; however, training is ongoing for when they are needed.

Curry said this summer, officers will hold a training exercise to familiarize themselves with the local schools.

“We want to get a feel of how these buildings are laid out, how we need to enter doorways, and that sort of thing,” he said. “And the best time to do that is when school is not in session.”

Curry and Officer Mike Abraham, are part of the department’s Advanced Tactical Robotic Operations Unit – or ATRO – and there are plans to integrate the device with the Covington County Incident Response Team.

On Thursday morning, the two demonstrated how the devices worked by extracting a “suspicious item” from the back of a military surplus truck and by defusing a “bomb” inside a backpack.

The ATRO Unit is now online and ready to respond to any situation or incident. Agencies wanting information on the unit or needing to request assistance from the unit should contact Curry at the APD.

- Andalusia Star News

Despite the name “2 Guys Pies,” Andalusia’s newest restaurant hasn’t got a thing to do with sweets. It’s all about the pizza, said owner Casey Jones.

Jones is no stranger to the local culinary scene. Best known for the eatery “CJ’s,” Jones said the new restaurant – located next to Goody’s – will feature pizza, wings, calzones and an assortment of pasta and salad dishes.

“The problem with doing a CJ’s-type restaurant in Andalusia is that you have to charge so much for an entrée because I’m dedicated to the quality of the food,” he said. “With pizza, the trend is fresh, fresh, fresh toppings. You can still have the quality and keep the prices down.

“And I felt like there is really a market for a sit-down pizza place,” he said.

Jones said for the last three weeks, he’s worked to perfect not only the pizza sauce, but also the dough.

“Those two things are going to set us apart from any other pizza place,” he said.

In addition to the traditional pizza-y items, the menu will also feature “the best hamburger and fresh cut French fries in town” and children’s selections.

An all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, including a salad bar, is $6.99 plus the drink cost. Entrée items are less than $10 each. A large five-topping pizza is $14. Beer and wine will also be served.

Eating options include dine-in, take-out or delivery within a five-mile radius.

Technology will play a huge role in the venture, Jones said. Hiring for the seven kitchen staff members, 14 wait staff and two drivers is being conducted online at 2guyspiesandalusia.com.

iPods will be used to send orders from the table directly to the kitchen. Drivers will be equipped with GPS and iPods so they know exactly when an order is ready for delivery. Customers can order online, and order histories will be stored to allow for faster times.

Jones said he’s employed a New York company to handle the restaurant’s social media presence.

“It’s a huge undertaking, but well worth it,” he said.

Jones isn’t stopping at one location – the plan is to franchise the “2 Guys Pies” brand and to open a second location soon, he said.

“It’s going to be a place that is no more than an hour away from here,” Jones said. “Maybe Brewton?”

And by the way, there’s really not a second “guy” behind “2 Guys Pies,” Jones said.

“It’s for my dad,” he said. “He just passed away. He was a supporter who owned his own business. When I was growing up, he’d say, ‘Always try to work for yourself,’ and that’s what I’m doing.”

The restaurant will open on May 23. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.

- Andalusia Star News