Proposed computer labs would set local education system apart
Andalusia Superintendent of Education Ted Watson on Tuesday presented the city council with the board’s funding request for the 2018-19 school year.
Mayor Earl Johnson reminded council members that language in the city ordinance authorizing a half-cent sales tax for education requires the board to present its annual proposal and request for use of the money in July.
The board is requesting:
- $500,000 toward the Andalusia High School auditorium/stadium project, currently under way.
The rain is killing us on the projects right now, but we do have a plan to make the venue a workable venue when the first home game takes place,” Watson said. “We have been in communication with the Building Commission.”
- $110,000 for the system’s Apple computer lease. The lease puts 1,347 ipads, laptops and desktops in the school system.
- $75,000 for continuation of the music program at AHS.
- $262,000 for the STEM/CTE initiative.
The allocation includes $212,000 to implement four V-Tech labs, including one each at Andalusia Elementary and Andalusia Junior High, and two at AHS.
“This equipment sets us apart,” Watson said. “The closest school doing anything like this is Enterprise, and they only have one lab. We are looking to put in four.”
The allocation also includes $15,000 for an analyst and $35,000 for equipment needed to run the new video board in the stadium. Students will learn to manage the equipment and produce video in a career tech class.
Watson said initially, he expects four or five students to be involved, but by the second year, he hopes to include as many as 20.
- $15,000 for contingency funds.
- $108,000 for the first year’s debt service on the construction bond funding the AHS projects.
The council took no action on the request.
In other business, the council:
- unanimously authorized the mayor to enter a contract with the Department of Transportation for a resurfacing grant. The funding was secured for the city by Rep. Mike Jones, with the understanding that the savings in paving costs realized by the city would be passed on to the board of education for its construction projects.
For instance, if the city spends $250,000 in a paving project, the state will reimburse those costs and the city will contribute an additional $250,000 toward the construction project at Andalusia High School.
The measure was approved after a lengthy conversation in which Councilman Terry Powell questioned the agreement.
- met in closed session with its attorney to discuss pending legal issues.
- changed its next regular meeting to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 19.
Civic groups, businesses and individuals responded to a call issued by members of the Old Three Notch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to help them paint Andalusia the most patriotic town in the South, and 75 hydrants have been adopted in time for the group’s annual Fourth of July parade.
Brenda Gouge, who serves as the organization’s regent, said she stumbled upon the idea by accident.
“I saw a picture of some DAR ladies in Alabama. They were standing outside at the Kate Duncan school and there was a fire hydrant right in front of them. I thought, ‘too bad that fire hydrant’s not red white and blue.’ ”
The idea stuck with her, and she began to look online to see if anyone else had painted fire hydrants.
She approached Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson with the idea, and he agreed to give it a try. The city council approved a simple patriotic design which is being used throughout the city. Sponsors cover the $75 cost for painting.
Fellow DAR member Sue Bass Wilson assisted Gouge with the project.
Even though 75 have been adopted, the DAR is still seeking more sponsors. Checks will be written to the DAR, who will in turn pay the city to paint the hydrants. The donations may be done in honor or memory of someone, and that will be noted in published lists of sponsors. The current list is shown, below..
The freedom hydrant forms are available here, at The Bass Agency, or by calling Gouge at 334.222.0347.
Fire hydrant sponsors
- Lions Club of Andalusia
- John and Faye Vick
- Bill Patton
- Farmer’s Insurance – Bulger Agency
- Joseph Garland
- Stan & Brenda Gouge
- Jimmy Wilson & Sue Wilson
- Mary Kendrick Lewey
- Dr. Jon Raley
- Bass Agency – In memory of Charlie Bass
- Bass Agency
- Bass Agency
- Shirley House – in memory of John Leo House
- Veterinary Express of South Alabama
- Tripp & Regina Bass
- Dirk & Claire Price
- Civitan Club of Andalusia
- Comfort Care Hospice
- Soap Opera
- Mayor Earl Johnson
- Mayor Earl Johnson
- Jackson Honda
- Andalusia Health
- John F. Jones, Jr. Attorney at Law
- Vicky Barrow and family – In memory of Gary Barrow
- O’Neal Agency
- Covington Electric Coop
- Mike & Janet Beste
- John & Teresa Hunt
- Covington Heavy Duty Parts, Inc.
- Andalusia Ford
- Sharon G. Dye
- Davis & Associates, Inc.
- Walker Electric
- Jean & Mike Jones
- Charles Dixon
- Pirate Graphics/Tony Brown
- Cynthia & Reggy Powell
- Lucy P. Martin & Kevin Price – in memory of Fred Price
- W.R. & Elaine Reeves
- Heather Helms – in honor of Justin Helms
- Sharyn Smith State Farm
- Carter Williams
- Jean Masterson
- Carter Williams & Jean Masterson
- Richard & Kathy Jones – in memory of Merle Barrow Jones
- Matt McQuay – In honor of the 5th & 6th graders at AES
- Cenergy Oil & Gas LLC/Anthony King
- Cenergy Oil & Gas LLC/Anthony King
- Jim & Laura Carpenter – In honor of Mr. Eland Anthony, WWII veteran
- Dr. Jon & Teresa Ward
- Luncheon Pilot Club of Andalusia
- Caroline Avant McCall
- First Baptist Church
- Sherwin Williams
- Citizens Bank
- Tim Hudson & Wayne Hudson & grandchildren – In honor of Gerald Hudson and his 24 years of service with the Andalusia Fire Department
- Bill Spurlin
59 & 60. Heenan & Amy Spurlin – In honor of our grandchildren Belle Spurlin, Brynne Spurlin, Thomas Lee, Amelia Grace Lee, Peyton Garner and Emory Garner
61. Sheila & Robert Williams – In honor of Granny, Johnny & Ronnie Thompkin
62. Sheila & Robert Williams – In honor of residents and staff of Andalusia Manor
63. Joey Thornton – In honor of Herbert Fain, a veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War
64. The Johnny Williamson Family
65. BB&T Bank
66 & 67. Power South
68. Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce
69. The Francis McGowin Family
70, 71, 72, 73. Shela Padgett – In honor of Jimmy Mott
74. Jimmie & Helen Wambles – in memory of Terry L. Wambles
75. Mark & Emogene Colvin – in honor of Douglas J. Colvin
Andalusia Star News
Children in the Andalusia Public Library’s Summer Reading Program were hard at work Thursday making their own instruments while Kevin “Woody” Woodson taught them that instruments can help shape their minds.
“I am a music teacher, so I believe in teaching them something different than being sucked into an iPad or video games,” Woodson said. “It’s like kids now-a-days don’t have any social skills because of these electronics.”
Woodson said that he would like to see what would happen if all power was lost for a day.
“When I was little we only had the radio and the Grand Ole Opry,” Woodson said. “We would look to different instruments to fill our attention span. We would learn hand eye coordination and harmony.”
Woodson brought out several of the 10 instruments, that he taught himself to play, to entertain the children.
“I have been playing instruments for 45 years,” Woodson said. “I am inspired by Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs, really all the bluegrass legends.”
Woodson played folk classics like “Banjo On My Knee” and “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad” on the banjo, “Sweet Home Alabama” on the mandolin and “Amazing Grace” on the piano.
T.J. Sullivan said that his favorite instruments that Woodson brought were the ukulele and guitar.
“I like them because most people can play songs on them,” Sullivan said. “And cause most every song can be played on them. My favorite songs are by Alvin and the Chipmunks and they can be played on the guitar.”
The APL’s Emily Brooks said that the kids are really enjoying this summer’s musical theme.
“The only scary thing about this Thursday was all the little pieces and all the little children,” Brooks said. “But they all had a great time.”
Today, the library will have Summer Movie Day, featuring “Peter Rabbit” at 2:30 p.m.
Next Thursday, Born To Be Wild will be at the library at 3 p.m., and will be bringing wild and crazy animals.
“Everyone needs to come to next weeks program,” Brooks said. “It will be the most interesting one of the summer.”
After performing on NBC’s The Voice, Hope Hull native Charity Bowden said that she still loves performing for small towns like the one she grew up in.
Bowden will open for Willie Sugarcapps at July Jamz next Thursday.
“I am originally from a very small town,” Bowden said. “So getting to go to small towns and perform is amazing. You can’t beat the people in a small town.”
Bowden had started singing at a very young age, and had to get over stage fright when she was seven years old if she wanted to keep singing.
“I started doing a lot of pageants to get comfortable on the stage,” Bowden said. “I got involved in the Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen program and needed a talent and singing was all I knew how to do as a talent, so after a couple pageants I started singing at little places and just kept on progressing from there.”
Bowden started taking vocal lessons from a coach in Birmingham when one day, he called her to tell her that producers from The Voice wanted her to go to Memphis for an audition.
“It was pretty out of the blue,” Bowden said. “I was 16 when I auditioned for The Voice and it was amazing to have someone think I was good enough.”
Bowden said that the best part of her Voice experience was spending time with her mother in Los Angeles.
“I was 16, so my mother had to accompany me and pretty much go everywhere with me,” Bowden said. “We got really close during that summer and I learned a lot about who I was as a person and who I wanted to become.”
Bowden said that after being on Miley Cyrus’ team, she learned a lot about different breathing techniques and how to control her voice better.
“It was amazing to be on Miley’s team,” Bowden said. “But other than her, I had a separate vocal coach that taught me a lot about my voice that I was doing wrong. It was a very educational visit to say the least.”
Along with being a participant on The Voice, Bowden has won the talent competition at Miss Alabama two years in a row.
“All I can say about that is that I couldn’t believe it,” Bowden said. “There were so many talented girls there. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Miss Alabama competition and the Miss America organization.”
Winners of the talent competition receive a full tuition scholarship to the University of Montevallo, which came in handy when Bowden started in the fall at the University of Montevallo.
“I think I’m set on tuition money for like six years,” Bowden said. “The only money that I have to spend at college is for sound equipment, so hopefully I won’t come out of college in debt.”
Bowden is studying marketing at the University of Montevallo with the hopes of learning all about the business world and pursuing her singing career.
“I know that I want to keep on singing, there is no doubt about that,” Bowden said. “I just want to pursue a lot of exciting things.”
Bowden’s style of singing is based on classic country, the music that she grew up on.
“I was raised on classic country and gospel,” Bowden said. “I listened to a lot of Patsy Cline, George Straight and really just all kinds of country.”
Bowden said that she is beyond excited to be performing in Andalusia next week.
“I have been through Andalusia a couple of times,” Bowden said. “I have actually sung at the RattleSnake Rodeo a couple times as well.”
July Jamz kicks off next Thursday with Willie Sugarcapps and Bowden with gates opening at 5:30 and the show starting at 7 p.m.
The Andalusia City Council agreed Tuesday to pursue grant funding to improve a number of streets.
Bob Carter of Goodwyn Mills and Caywood told council members that it is possible to pursue Community Development Block Grant grant funding of $450,000 or $250,000. The city’s share of the ensuing projects would be $191,000 or $105,000 respectively.
Council members agreed that they should pursue the larger amount of funding. The city’s matching funds can be pulled from gasoline tax proceeds, Mayor Earl Johnson said.
Among the streets being considered for improvements if the city is successful in securing the grant funds are portions of Third Street, Eight Street, Ninth Street, Second Street, Oak Street, and Woodruff Street, all near Magnolia Cemetery; also Rankin Street, Riley Street, Jackson Street, Auburn Avenue, Carlton Street and Little Street.
Applications are due in July, and it will be several months before the grant awards are announced, Carter said.
In other business, the council:
- Saw a demonstration of augmented reality education software being considered by Andalusia City Schools.
- Tabled a resolution assigning abatement costs for work completed by the city.