Published 12:02am Friday, November 12, 2010
By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
Brigadier General Walter D. Givhan, U.S. Air Force, said that Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was originally intended not only to honor veterans, but also those Americans who had supported the war effort from the home front.
For that reason, he said, he was pleased to celebrate Veterans Day 2010 in Andalusia, and to be the guest speaker for the city’s Veterans Day program.
When Givhan was in Afghanistan, Andalusians “adopted” his unit, sending frequent care packages overseas.
“You were strong, steadfast and generous,” he said, adding that members of his unit learned to quickly recognize patriotic packages from Andalusia that contained Carolyn Hart’s pecan pies and Pennye Anderson’s pound cakes.
As a native Alabamian, he said, he was pleased to teach members of his unit who were from “other places” about the Southern favorites, adding, “I believe their accents deepened after they ate them.”
“It raised our spirits to know you supported us and I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
During his tour of Afghanistan, Givhan led a combined joint mission to rebuild the Afghan Air Force. He explained that a “combined joint mission” includes soldiers from numerous countries and different branches of the armed services.
Afghanistan is a country the size of Texas with a very poor road infrastructure and without almost any rail.
“Air is absolutely essential” for efficient travel and an effective military, he said.
Afghanistan has had an air force since 1920, and indeed had a “formidable” air force in the 1980s, he said.
“But there was very little left by the time we got there, except Afghan people willing to work.”
Givhan said he and others worked to build an air force “tailored to meet the needs of the Afghans.”
He said he adopted as his motto “ask the Afghans,” and urged those under his command to approach their work with creativity and cultural sensitivity.
Givhan, who is multi-lingual, said, “If this boy from west Dallas County can speak three languages, anybody can.”
At present, Givhan is the commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
His speech was followed by a 21-gun salute and the laying of wreaths at the veterans memorial for veterans, POW/MIA, and medal of honor recipients.
Published 2:00pm Friday, November 12, 2010
By Stephanie Nelson
Andalusia Star News
The Sanford Station shopping center is now the new home to two local retailers – Hibbett Sporting Goods and Factory Connection.
Corporate officials said Thursday the second Hibbett location will open its doors on Saturday.
The company announced its new venture in October. Now, the new store will employ approximately eight full and part-time team members.
“This convenient new location is a win-win for our company and the Andalusia community,” said Mickey Newsome, Hibbett’s chief executive officer. “We are very excited to continue serving the customers in this area.”
On opening a second Andalusia location, Newsome said, “We research the markets we enter to learn what the customers of that area want from a sporting goods store.
“We constantly update our merchandise assortment to offer the latest in product technology, performance and fashion so that we can meet the diverse needs of our customer’s active lifestyles,” he said.
With the addition of the second Andalusia location, the company has 81 stores open in Alabama.
Opening next in the shopping center will be Factory Connection, a clothing retailer whose store front is currently located in Westgate Plaza.
Store manager Jessie Walden said the store will close Monday and reopen Thursday in its new location next to Cato’s in Sanford Station.
“We needed more room and wanted to be closer to more shopping opportunities,” Walden said of the move. “With the additional space, we’re going to be able to carry more name brand items and more merchandise.”
The move is also prompting a change in store hours, Walden said.
“We’re going to open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday,” she said. “We’re going to be open on Sunday now, too, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.”
By Staff Reports
Andalusia Star News
To say that Brig. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, Thursday’s featured speaker at the Covington County Veteran’s Day Ceremony, knows something about the military would be an understatement.
Givhan is scheduled to speak immediately following the parade, at approximately 10 a.m., at the Andalusia Veterans’ Memorial Park, located behind city hall. His address will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony with a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps” in memory of the nation’s fallen soldiers.
Givhan currently serves as the Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
The institute supports national defense by providing graduate, post-graduate and professional education and research programs for Air Force, sister service and foreign officers and civilians in pertinent scientific and technical disciplines.
Givhan, a native of Safford, Ala., graduated from Morgan Academy in Selma and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., where he was a National Merit Scholar. He served as the U.S. air liaison officer to the commanding general, French ground forces, for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has commanded a combat training squadron, an operations group, an air base wing and an air expeditionary wing.
His previous staff assignments include deputy military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force; Chief of the Congressional Action Division for Air Force Legislative Liaison; Chief, Combat Forces Division, Directorate of Programs; and Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He was also a Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, T-1, AT-38, F-15 and A-10 aircraft.
Honors include a Bronze Star medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, a National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Service medal, two Kuwait Liberation medals and a French Croix de Guerre with silver star.
By Stephanie Nelson
Andalusia Star News
Mayor Earl Johnson said Tuesday he hopes the crowd for the Absolutely Andalusia Homecoming 2010 events this week number in the thousands.
“With this being the first time, it’s hard to anticipate just how many people will visit Andalusia over the three to four day period,” Johnson said. “I think that – once it’s said and done – that number will be pretty significant.”
And with the increase in visitors one can expect an increase in sales tax collections.
“Those people are going to come to town and spend money while they’re here, which, aside from the homecoming and seeing everyone, is an added bonus to the event. People are going to eat here, shop here, buy gas and hopefully spend the night in one of our area hotels.”
Tomorrow will mark the start of the celebration with the 9 a.m. “All American Homecoming” parade at 9 a.m. Veterans will line up at 8:30 a.m. at Andalusia High School. The parade will begin there and travel Third Avenue onto East Three Notch Street, before ending at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Following the parade, a ceremony and reception will be held at the Memorial Park. Activities also include a historical marker presentation, a reception, pictures with all participating veterans at Memorial Park and City Hall tours for everyone.
“A lot of times people give lip service about how appreciative they are for the service the veterans provided to our country,” Johnson said. “Thursday is a perfect opportunity for the community to show (veterans) how much they appreciate it. I hope our citizens and the community make the effort.”
a wreath at Veteran’s Memorial Park on Tuesday
afternoon. | Stephanie Nelson/ Star News
There are a “multitude” of events happening throughout the weekend such as walking tours, art shows and a musical.
This year’s annual Andalusia Middle School veterans’ day program will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. Because parking is limited at AMS, a shuttle service is being provided with pick-ups at 12:35 p.m. at the following locations:
• city hall;
• Johnson Park;
• First Baptist Church, Andalusia;
• First Baptist Church, Whatley Street;
• Cedar Grove Church of Christ;
• Coleman Center;
• Southside Baptist Church; and
• Harmony Baptist Church (Please call 222-8117 to schedule a pick-up at this location.)
There will be no parking at the school.
Johnson said he believes Saturday’s air show at the South Alabama Regional Airport performance by the U.S. Air Force A-10A Thunderbolt II West Coast Team will be the biggest draw of the event. The gates open to the general public at 9 a.m., and food vendors and various exhibitors will be on site throughout the day. Musical artists Scott Rogers and Phillip McClung perform at 11 a.m., and the Airshow begins at noon. Other ground entertainment includes a comical act from Greg Koontz & the Alabama Boys at 12:45 p.m. and country music artist and Opp native Martin McDaniel at 3:45 p.m., followed by fireworks from Bama Boys Fireworks.
At 3:15 p.m., the team will take to the skies with pyrotechnics.
No pets or coolers are allowed at the air show; however, attendees are encouraged to bring their cameras, lawn chairs and portable radios. The day’s events will conclude at 5 p.m.
“An event of this magnitude has never been done here before,” Johnson said. “I’d guess the crowd at 5,000 to 6,000, but it could go as high as 10,000. We’ll just have to see.”
By Stephanie Nelson
Andalusia Star News
Covington County residents will have an opportunity Sunday to see a first-ever event on two fronts – a performance by the nationally renowned Lily Cai Chinese Dance Com-pany.
It will be Cai’s first Alab-ama performance ever.
“I think that dance is about everyone’s life,” Cai said Tuesday. “A moving body constitutes dance. Think about it. When you laugh, your head is moving. That is dance.”
Cai and her six-member dance company are being brought to the area as part of the Covington Arts Council’s 2010-2011 season.
Cai moved to the U.S. from Shanghai in 1984, she said. Four years later, she established her dance company.
“The longer I live (in the U.S.) the more I realize that people know little about Chinese dance – Chinese food, yes; Chinese dance, no,” she said. “It is so unique. It is very rich. It has such beauty, such feeling. Most people who see it say they have never seen anything like it in their life.”
Most in Covington County have never had the opportunity to see such a performance, which was the exact reason Paula Harr, CAC executive director, leaped at the opportunity to bring the company to the area.
“I had looked at this company for a number of years, but the price was always a little out of reach for us,” Harr said. “This year, the tour was coming through the area and with the help of a grant, we were able to negotiate to bring them to Andalusia.
“This performance is just beautiful to watch,” she said. “Their technical ability is amazing. Even those who may not be into dance will enjoy the esthetic quality and beauty of their movement.”
Described as “Elegant, sensual and captivating,” the Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company “melds ancient Chinese forms with modern dance in an artistic and inventive marriage of styles. The Company bridges the continuum from past to contemporary – from spectacular court dances of Chinese dynasties to contemporary works fusing classical Chinese movement and ballet, complemented by dazzling costumes, original music and multi-media designs.”
The company will also host a workshop for area dancers on Saturday.
“Anytime that someone has the opportunity to see something outside their usual realm of dance experience, it only enhances their appreciation of the art of dance,” Harr said of the local tutorial.
Lily Cai will hit the stage Sunday as part of the
Covington Arts Council’s 2010-2011 season. | Courtesy photo
The 2 p.m. performance Sunday at the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Dixon Center will serve as a close to the “Absolutely Andalusia” event. On display in the lobby will be a ribbon sculpture created by Cathy Powell’s gifted and talented students at Andalusia Elementary School.
“We want people to know that arts are alive and well in Andalusia and Covington County, and we’re very proud of it,” Harr said.
That’s also a message that Cai said she hopes to promote through each of her performances no matter their location.
“We want you to enjoy the beauty of happy and to see something different when come see us perform,” Cai said.
This performance of the Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
General admission season tickets are $50 each; $25 for students. Family packages, which consist of two general admission tickets and two student tickets, are $125 for the season.
Tickets are available at Ansley Place or Brooks True Value Hardware and will be available at the door of the night performance for $15 each.
