The clouds parted Saturday morning, the sun came out, and both the Andalusia Junior Woman’s Club and the Boy Scouts were able to proceed with planned events.
The AJWC’s fourth annual Three Notch Market was delayed until noon. Not all vendors who had registered participated, but many faithful did. Members of the AJWC improvised, putting together a last-minute food booth themselves to keep the hungry attendees happy. 
Saturday afternoon, the Boy Scouts held an expo in Robinson Park. Saturday night, they hosted a flag retiring ceremony. The unseasonably cool temperatures brought people out with blankets for the event, which featured Vietnam veteran Kenneth Johnson as the guest speaker.
The Three Notch Market 5K and Fun Run was delayed until March 18.
Gov. Robert Bentley capped off what he said has been a great week for Alabama by celebrating with Vector Aerospace the grand opening of its expanded Andalusia facility.
On Monday, Bentley was in Auburn for the grand opening of General Electric Aviations jet engines component facility.
Tuesday, he joined officials of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International to break ground on a $70 million expansion in Tuscaloosa that will mean 600 new jobs.
Thursday, he was in Lincoln to join Honda officials in celebrating the unveiling of Acura’s MDX, which will be made exclusively in Alabama.
“I’m proud to be with you today in Covington County, celebrating this expansion,” Bentley said.
Declan O’Shea, president and CEO of Vector Aerospace Corporation, expressed his appreciation of the local employees who make continued growth of the Vector facility possible. He also saluted state and local government officials for their support.
At present, Vector employs 150 people in its 85,000 square foot Andalusia facility and does approximately $30 million in business annually. O’Shea said he expects those numbers to continue to grow.
“Ultimately, it was because of the people in this facility that we could do the expansion,” he said. “Their work and reputation help us attract sales.”
The grand opening drew hundreds of local, regional and state officials, as well as local supporters. Vector provided guided tours of the facility, and served a buffet lunch under a huge white tent after the official ceremonies.
Among the dignitaries was Samuel Adcock, senior vice president for strategy and development at EADS, the parent company of both Vector and Airbus; Commander Matthew Bowen of the U.S. Navy; and Capt. James Fisher of the U.S. Navy, as well as representatives of Vector’s customers.
With new owners and a new name, the Andalusia bowling alley Strikers will soon have a new look while offering new perks.
Don Dupree and brother Greg are owners of Ft. Walton Beach Bowl, and for the last 10 years or so, the two have waited patiently for Boland Lanes to be put on the market.
A few short months ago, their patience paid off.
“We had a lot of bowlers from here visit us in Ft. Walton Beach for tournaments,” Don Dupree said Monday. “When we heard (Boland Lanes) was for sale, we jumped on it.”
As soon as the sale closed, the two also jumped on plans to renovate and rejuvenate the local bowling scene.
First, the men changed the operating hours to seven-days-a-week of fun – Monday through Thursday from noon until 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from noon until midnight and on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m.
“The thing is, we recognize that most people don’t get off work until 5,” Dupree said. “We want this facility to be all about family entertainment. If we closed at 6, that wouldn’t work, so we decided to change the hours.”
As for the “look of the place,” that, too, will soon change, he said.
“That Barney purple – it will soon be gone,” Dupree said. “That’s the first thing that will go. We’re going to remodel inside and out. There’ll be carpet on the walls to deaden the sound; new tile. In the future, we’re going to add a sports bar for the adults and a patio out back for summer use.”
Inside, one will already find a fully stocked pro shop.
However, the biggest change the Duprees hope to make is the resurgence of the bowling leagues – adult and youth, alike.
“We want those leagues in here, playing,” Dupree said. “By changing the hours, it gives more play time to everyone.
“The great thing about bowling, for the youth, is that bowling isn’t a sport where you sit on the bench,” he said. “For families, it’s all about the entertainment; the fun.”
And Dupree knows what he’s talking about when it comes to bowling, he said.
A Professional Bowling Association member since 1995, Dupree has won five various PBA titles and began working along side his father when he was 12, he said.
Andalusia’s Tourism and Relocation Committee will hold a golden oldies-themed Music Around Town at 6:30 tonight in City Hall Auditorium.
Performers will include the Andalusia High School Choral Department; Robert and Madison Copeland; Rhonda Ricks, Angela Sanders and Duebelt; Curtis and June Simpson and Eric Lidh in a George Burns and Gracie Allen skit; Jeremy Boyd, Savannah Ricks, and Cat and Beth Dean.
There is no charge for admission.
It was nothing but smiles and laughter Tuesday as the Covington County Miracle League introduced its players and parents to the field. Scores of players tried out the green for the first time as they hit the ball and rounded the bases. Official play for the six-week season will begin on Tues., April 30, at 6 p.m. To view our gallery, click here.