Saturday, May 01, 2010
Published Saturday, May 1, 2010
Monday, Census takers will begin knocking on the doors of Covington County residents who have not mailed in their 2010 Census forms.
Nationwide, the push is set to begin today with an estimated 635,000 temporary census takers fanning across America to begin conducting personal interviews of roughly 48 million households.
How-ever as of Friday, Dr. Darryl Lee, Census partnership coordinator for Alabama and Northern Florida, said local census officials were still preparing work assignments.
“We’re not disclosing the number of workers that are going to be in your area because we’re in the process of doing work assignments,” he said. “But I can say that these employees will be working out of the local census office, which is in Phenix City, so they will be working all of those counties.”
Census records show there are 11 southeast Alabama counties covered by that office – including Covington.
“I can also say because of the size of the area, there’s going to be a good number (of Census takers) out in the field,” he said.
Lee reminded residents that census takers are easily identifiable by their census badges and official Census canvas bag.
“Remember, too, that a census worker will never ask to enter your home,” he said.
Lee said if no one is at home at the time of the visit, a door hanger with a contact number on it will be left, and residents can use that number to call and set up an appointment.
“A Census taker will visit the home three times and attempt to reach someone by phone three times,” he said.
“We do need residents to cooperate,” he said. “Open the door and answer the questions. We say, ’10 questions, 10 minutes.’ That’s all.”
According the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census, county participation has leveled off, with most municipalities seeing only a one percent increase from last week’s numbers.
Currently, 63 percent of Covington County has mailed in their Census forms. That’s a 2 percent increase from the final 2000 Census count.
Now, municipal participations rates range from 49 percent in Florala to 77 percent in Opp and 72 percent in Andalusia.
It is estimated 635,000 temporary census takers will fan across America to begin conducting personal interviews with roughly 48 million households that did not send back a completed census form in mail census areas or who did not receive a form at their home.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Air shows, performances, civic projects on tap for event
Published Thursday, April 29, 2010
The committees organizing the components of Andalusia’s Homecoming 2010 celebration have lots of things planned for Andalusia in November – from little details like planting yellow pansies throughout town to big events expected to draw a crowd of 15,000.
The celebration, part of the state Tourism and Travel’s 2010 celebration of Small Towns and Downtowns, centers around the county’s annual Veterans Day celebration and includes a musical program, a street dance, air show, civic project, quilt show and a gala.
Veterans programs
On Veterans Day, Thurs., Nov. 11, the community’s traditional parade and ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park will be followed by an outdoor reception “under the big top” and the placement of a historic marker at city hall, formerly East Three Notch School. The marker is being provided by the state of Alabama.
Civic project
The civic project for Homecoming 2010 is the improvement and expansion of Andalusia’s Dream Park, located on the campus of LBWCC. Lisa Patterson reported for the Dream Park committee, and said the new build is scheduled for Oct. 20-24.
“Our kickoff is May 14 at Superior Bank,” Patterson said.
“We’re going to raffle off a Big Green Egg with all proceeds going to the Dream Park.”
The Quilters Guild also is going to raffle a quilt with all proceeds going to the Dream Park, she said. As in the original build for the Dream Park, the fundraising effort will include handprints ($25), and supporters may also buy pickets for a new fence ($50).
The handprints and pickets will be pre-sold beginning May 14, and children will be invited to make handprints at a later date.
Billy Bimbo is chairing the fundraising for the project, Patterson said.
A dedication or ribbon cutting will be held during the homecoming weekend, Nichols said.
Andalusia in Review
On Thursday evening, there will be a free performance at the LBWCC Dixon Center, “Andalusia in Review.”
Paula Sue Duebelt and Sue Bass Wilson are putting together the show.
“Sue and I have eight pages of script, going back to Indians, whom we believe were here first,” Duebelt said.
The program will include music appropriate for the history.
“Like when the settlers are coming, it might be ‘Wait for the Wagon,’ “ Wilson said.
“There’ll be some group singing, individual singing,and dancing.”
Open houses, book signing
On Fri., Nov. 12, daytime events will include open houses in the city schools and a book signing by local authors at the Andalusia Public Library.
Street dance
Martha Duggan is chairing the committee staging a street dance on Fri., Nov. 12, between the old Andala and the current CenturyLink buildings. Perfect Image from Mobile will entertain from a wide musical repertoire, she said.
Air Show
Jed Blackwell reported that the David Schultz Air Show has been contracted to stage an air show, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 13.
“We already have 22 vendors on board,” Blackwell said.
“There also will be a car show that will coincide with this event.”
The last air show held at the South Alabama Regional Airport, held in 1991, drew 9,000 people, Blackwell said
“We’re setting a goal of 15,000, which would be a crowd similar to attendance at the Rattlesnake Rodeo.”
Like most of the Homecoming 2010 events, the air show is free.
Other events
Other events planning during the extended Homecoming 2010 weekend are a quilt show hosted by the Covington Quilters Guild at Johnson Park.
“Visions of Thread and Fabric” will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Both First Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church have agreed to host welcome centers for visitors who need a place to rest and refresh between events.
A juried art show is also in the works, organized by Dot Burkett.
Saturday’s events will be end with a gala at the Kiwanis Center.
The four-day Homecoming event is being organized by the city’s Tourism and Relocation committee and chaired by Barbara Nichols
Published Saturday, March 20, 2010
For Andalusia residents, filling out the U.S. Census form could mean grants for their city and cash for their own pockets.
Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson said Friday city residents have two ways to “cash in” for filling out the Census forms.
“After everything is said and done, the district who reports the largest percentage of increase in population will receive free garbage service for a month,” Johnson said. “That’s the first way and doesn’t require any effort on the resident’s part except for filling out the form.
“The second is a little more interesting,” he said. “And it means cash money.”
After completing and mailing their completed Census forms, residents are asked to bring the form’s mailing envelope – the one that housed the questionnaire – to a drop off point at city hall, labeled with their name, address and phone number.
Three envelopes will be drawn at the end of the Census process, he said.
“The owner of the first envelope drawn will receive $200; the second, $300 and the third, $500,” he said. “We’re going to take it on faith that these people have completed their Census form and mailed it in because we believe so strongly about what the Census can mean for Andalusia.
“Why? Because every federal or state dollar that is tied to population numbers will use this Census information to determine if Andalusia meets the requirements,” he said. “These numbers could mean millions in dollars for Andalusia. You hear people say ‘we need this national fast food chain or that retail store.’ Well, the first thing they look at is the Census number to determine if our population will sustain it. If we don’t have the numbers, it goes no further.”
Winners’ addresses will be verified to determine if they live inside the city limits.
For those who do not have an official Census envelope or if a Census worker takes the information, Johnson said residents should ask for some documentation from the worker that would substitute in the place of an envelope.
A red barrel will be placed at the utility drive-through located next to city hall and available for usage Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Census forms should be completed and mailed by April 1.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Published Saturday, April 24, 2010
There will be at least 47 vendors at the first-ever Three Notch Market event set for Sat., May 1, and there’s still room for more.
Sponsored by the Andalusia Junior Woman’s Club, the day is being called an “arts and crafts fair” featuring local talent and vendors.
Amy Dugger, AJWC Three Notch Market chairperson, said Wednesday is the deadline for vendors.
“There is going to be tons to see and tons to do there Saturday,” Dugger said. “We’ve got a host of local businesses who are bringing wares; artists, jewelry makers – you name it. We even have someone from Atlanta coming down to give out gardening tips.
“If you have something you’d like to showcase, we have to know by Wednesday,” she said. “We still have to figure out where everyone is going to be.”
The open-air market style event will be held in the Farmer’s Market on Historic Central Street from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Tickets are $3 per person and are available at MaryAnn’s on the Court Square or at the gate. Vendor applications are also available at MaryAnn’s or at the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce. There will be a $100 booth fee and a $25 jury fee.
Food will also be available throughout the day, as well as local entertainment and a 5K race and one-mile fun run will also be held as part of the Three Notch Market activities.
Pre-registration for the run/race will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Fri., April 30, at the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce.
The 5K race will begin at 8 a.m. from the square and will take runners in the Andalusia High School “neighborhood” and ends at CCB Community Bank, where the fun run will begin at 9 a.m. The Fun run will be to Stanley Avenue and back.
Walkers are welcome, and awards will be given to the top five male and female runners in the 5K and to the top five males and females 12 and under in the Fun Run.
Registration is $20 for the 5K, and $15 for the fun run. There also is a no T –shirt registration option for $10. Runners also may register at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the race.
“With this being our first year, we can’t say how grateful we are to have had so much interest,” Dugger said. “It’s going to be a great day.”
All money raised will be donated back to the community through such organizations as the Jr. Miss program, Covington County and Andalusia City schools, Crossover’s Women’s Ministry and the Covington Arts Council.
For additional information, see the Three Notch Market Web site at ajwcthreenotchmarket.webs.com or the Three Notch Market Facebook page.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
72,000 square foot facility to allow for 150 new jobs
Published Saturday, March 20, 2010
Photo by Michele Gerlach
Greg Henderson of SEAGD; Speaker of the House Seth Hammett; Bob Smith of ADO; Mayor Earl Johnson; Mr. In-Tae Hoe; Sen. Jimmy Holley; and Andalusia Industrial Development Board member Bill Bryant.
As city and state officials stood with SaeHaeSung owner Mr. In-Tae Heo tossing out ceremonial sand to celebrate the groundbreaking for the company’s new 72,000 square foot facility in Andalusia’s Industrial Park, the real dirt movers never paused.
Behind the dignitaries, heavy equipment operators were busy getting the last of the site prep work done so that concrete footings can be poured in the coming week.
In his comments before the “groundbreaking,” Mayor Earl Johnson praised city employees and contractors for all that has been accomplished since the council agreed on March 6 to move forward with the project.
“Two weeks ago, it looked like this property over here, only the trees were bigger,” Johnson said of the property on which the new facility will be built and indicating a wooded lot. “If we can dodge and survive the rain, they’ll pour the footings and slabs out here next week.”
Johnson said that the city has agreed to turn the keys to the new building over to Mr. Heo on June 1.
“If Andy Wiggins and Micah Blair look a little nervous, there’s a reason,” he said.
Director of Planning Andy Wiggins and Building Inspector Micah Blair are overseeing the construction for the city. They are working with Ingram Construction, LLC, ACI Building Systems, Inc., DMD Engineers, and S&M Concrete, LLC, to complete the building by June.
“Mr. Heo has agreed to invest millions of dollars into equipment for the facility,” Johnson said.
SaeHaeSung is a Hyundai and Kia supplier that currently has a welding operation in Andalusia. With the new addition, it will add a stamping process to its local facility, including $10 million in equipment, and add 150 employees over the next two years.
“I’ve never met a more determined entrepreneur,” Johnson said. “He has great vision and has always stood by his word.”
SaeHaeSung was recruited to Andalusia in 2006 with the help of Southeast Alabama Gas District. In August of 2009, Johnson and other city officials traveled to Korea to meet with Mr. Heo and began talking about the expansion.
Among those on hand for the ceremony were Speaker of the House Seth Hammett; Sen. Jimmy Holley; Bob Smith of the Alabama Development Office; Greg Henderson of SEAG;, Council member Hazel Griffin; Councilman Will Sconiers; Councilman Terry Powell; and Councilman Kenneth Mount.