Those in the Andalusia City School System wishing to sponsor a fundraiser must obtain approval from the city school board.
This is not a new rule, but school officials want to remind heads of departments, athletic clubs and the likes, that this is board policy.
Sponsors for fundraisers should submit the request to the respective school’s principal, who will in turn present it to the board.
ACS Superintendent Ted Watson said the reason for the policy is to protect local residents.
“A few years ago, we had businesses solicit money from people, and no money went to the schools,” he said.
In a special-called board meeting Tuesday night, board members approved the Andalusia High School Quarterback Club’s Hall of Fame banquet on Aug. 12. The group hopes to raise between $2,000 and $5,000.
Watson said the policy is to help ensure that the board can try to keep track of the events.
Board president Bill King agreed.
“This lets the community know what is legit,” he said. “We don’t want to bombard the community with too much stuff.”
Watson said the policy isn’t about “flexing our muscles,” it’s about the clubs and community knowing what’s being sold and when.
“It’s to help avoid duplicated efforts,” he said,
Watson said residents who wish to see a list of approved fundraisers can visit the school system’s website at andalusiacityschools.net.
The “star of the South Alabama Regional Airport” – Vector Aerospace – held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for a new facility that will bring an estimated 125 jobs to Covington County.
Gov. Robert Bentley and ADO Director Seth Hammett, along with Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson, Opp Mayor H.D. Edgar and County Commission Chairman Lynn Sasser, were among the dignitaries attending the day’s event.
Vector, a Canadian-based helicopter repair company, currently employs 150 people. The new expansion will allow the company to nearly double the number of employees and the amount of workspace at the SARA.
It took a group effort with the cities of Andalusia, Opp, their industrial development boards, the airport authority, the county commission and the newly developed county industrial development board to secure bond money to fund the $3 million project.
“Vector is our star,” said Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson. “We started the project two years ago, and this is a testament to what we can do when we band together.
“There is nothing better we can do than to give a person a job,” he said.
Johnson described 100-125 jobs as “head of household-type” jobs.
Hammett said the project was a “testament to the quality of work found in Covington County” – a statement Vector’s CEO Declan O’Shea echoed.
“We’re here for the long term,” O’Shea said. “Two weeks ago, we had more aircraft here than we’ve ever had. We have the people, the skills, the dedication and the willingness to be successful.
“Vector doesn’t attract customers because we have a hangar here, it’s because we have the people,” he said.
Bentley, who flew into the airport from Montgomery, said that “after such difficult times in the state,” it was nice to have good news to share.
“It really is a pleasure to announce new jobs for Alabama,” Bentley said. “They’re going to go a long way in helping the state reach full unemployment.”
Bentley said he and Hammett are planning to attend the Paris Air Show later this month in the hopes of drawing companies like Vector to Alabama.
Construction completion is expected by late summer or early fall.
Covington County is set to share in a $67,695 traffic enforcement grant.
Gov. Robert Bentley made the announcement Tuesday that grants totaling $148,255 to save lives by increasing law enforcement presence on central and southeast Alabama roadways would be awarded to Alabama law enforcement agencies.
Enterprise State Community College received a total of $67,695 for the Southeast Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office, which includes Covington.
For the budding artist in the family, the LAAC still has plenty of slots open in its summer art camps for elementary schoolers.
Myra Walker of the LAAC said there are at least 11 slots open for the June 13-17 session and about 18 slots open for the June 20-24.
“There is going to all kinds of art going on,” she said. “I know there is going to be a circus theme and an African theme. They’ll make instruments and a whole lot of other fun things.”
Cost is $60 each week per child, and classes are held from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
For drama enthusiasts, the LAAC will offer a drama camp taught by Cathy Powell July 6-15 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. for ages 8-14.
Students will present a “musical bebop” to “Aesop’s Fables.”
“We still have plenty of stops open for the camp,” Walker said.
Students will put their skills to use at a production at City Hall July 15.
Cost is $75 per child.
Call 222-3205 for more information or to register.
Local hotel owners said the 2011 Babe Ruth 12U Softball World Series will make a significant impact on the economy.
Dwight Mikel, City of Andalusia director of leisure services and tournament coordinator, said approximately 250 rooms have been blocked in hotels in Andalusia and Opp at a Tuesday committee planning meeting.
The World Series will be held Aug. 4-9 at the Andalusia Sports Complex, where 12 teams and their families from across the eight geographic regions of the United States will converge to be a part of the tournament.
Mikel said the World Series itself is a “county-wide venture,” where the City of Andalusia, the City of Opp and the Covington County Commission have donated funds to help with the cost of hosting the event.
“We’re all stakeholders in this, and we’re all trying to showcase this,” Mikel said.
Comfort Inn owner Nick Patel said the softball World Series will drastically help his business.
“It will help in revenues, and it will help everybody in town’s businesses, restaurants and gas pumps,” Patel said.
Holiday Inn Express manager Kim Jenkins said in addition to helping with her hotel’s revenues, it will bring Andalusia some good notoriety.
“It’ll actually cause them (visitors) to come back,” Jenkins said. “It’s a good PR (public relations) tool.
“We’re able to show what Andalusia offers,” she said. “Instead of a small-world town, we’re an up-and-coming city.”
Neil Patel, manager at the Best Western in Opp, said the World Series is just plain “good for business.”
“It just helps out and brings revenue,” Neil said. “It just helps us out when they come. It’s good to see Andalusia host something this big.”
As early as next week, managers from each hotel that have rooms blocked for the World Series will meet to discuss how the registration will work, Mikel said.