Recent complaints from local residents about buzzards roosting on the Carson Street water tank set Tim Glisson on a mission.
“I knew they were a protected species, so I got in touch with the Alabama Game and Fish Department. They sent me to the U.S.D.A. Animal and Plant Inspection Services,” Glisson, the director of water and sewer operations for the City of Andalusia Utilities, explained to the Utilities Board recently.
“Buzzards,” which are actually vultures, are migratory birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, state laws, and regulations. There are two species native to North America: black vultures and turkey vultures. According to the USDA, both raptor species play an important role in the ecosystem, feeding mostly on carrion, or already-dead animals. However, their sharp nails and highly acidic stomach acid and urine also can cause damage.
Because they are a protected species, the birds, their nests, and eggs cannot be killed or destroyed without a Migratory Bird Depredation Permit. However, the USDA can provide site-specific vulture management assistance when this is property damage or health and safety concerns.
By the time the USDA’s Officer Jason Terry visited Andalusia, Glisson had identified 12 locations where vultures regularly roosted. Terry recommended hanging constructed effigies of vultures in the locations, and Glisson agreed to purchase them from the USDA.
Terry returned to Andalusia on Wednesday and watched for flocks of vultures to who up in the sky. Shortly before dusk, he noticed a large concentration of vultures going to roost between Opp Avenue and Ellis Street.
Glisson said Terry got permission from an Opp Avenue resident to enter the large wooded area behind his residents, where he shot off a screaming pyro round to scare the vultures away. Terry believes this wooded area is the main roosting area and that the water tank and other buildings were being used for twilight sunning.
Thursday, Glisson and Terry called on the Andalusia Fire Department for help. Using the ladder truck, the effigies were strategically placed in the 12 roosting locations previously identified.
As of late Thursday afternoon, the vultures were reported to be circling their usual roosting spots, but flying away once they spotted the effigies.
“We hope this fixed the problem,” Glisson said.
The Andalusia Police Department added another tool for solving crimes this week when it partnered with Central Alabama CrimeStoppers.
Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson said the organization recently held a meeting in the area and invited local departments to join forces.
“This gives people an opportunity to report crimes and know they will remain completely anonymous,” Hudson said. “We can also ask questions of those who provide information, but the whole process remains anonymous.”
Similarly, CrimeStoppers will help push out cases in which local law enforcement offers are seeking information.
Hudson said Andalusia residents can contact Central Alabama CrimeStoppers by using the 24-hour tip line at 215-STOP (7867) or download the organization’s P3-tips app. Residents can also give information through the web at www.215STOP.com or the Facebook page at Central Alabama CrimeStoppers (www.Facebook.com/215stop/). CrimeStoppers also provides an 800 number, 1-833-AL1-STOP, for those that are outside of the 334-area code.
All tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 when their tip leads to an arrest. All rewards are paid within 30 days.
Andalusia Health Services has announced that a limited number of scholarships are available for Covington County residents in the following areas:
· Medicine
· Nurse Practitioner (Master’s)
· Registered Nursing
· Licensed Practical Nursing
· Lab Technology
· Emergency Medical Technician
· Paramedic
· Occupational Therapy (Master’s)
· Occupational Therapy Assistant
· Physical Therapy (Doctorate)
· Physical Therapy Assistant
· Radiology
· Speech Pathology (Master’s)
· Surgical Technology
· Diagnostic Medical Sonography
· Pharmacy (Doctorate)
Applications are available at Andalusia Health, Mizell Memorial Hospital, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, or by emailing . The application deadline is March 31.
The City of Andalusia recently signed a new contract for recycling that limits the items that can be included in recycling bags picked up by the city, which means that magazines and newspapers should no longer be included in the green recycling bags.
Director of Public Works Glynn Ralls said it is important that local residents note the changes. If more than 10 percent of the content in a recycling bag is from items on the “unacceptable” list, none of the contents will be recycled by the vendor.
The city offers a free recycling program to its citizens and makes participation extremely easy. Residents are initially furnished two green bags. All acceptable materials can be commingled in the same bag. No sorting is required. Cans, plastic bottles, and jugs should be rinsed.
The city will continue to assist its residents who wish to recycle with the following items:
· Aluminum cans
· Tin cans
· Plastics (#1 and #2). Examples include water bottles, soft drink bottles, and milk jugs. Discard all bottle caps.
· Clean paper
· Clean cardboard boxes, free of all packaging materials (plastics and Styrofoam)
There is no charge for recycling for city utilities customers.
Items that are unacceptable include:
· Glass
· Magazines
· Newspaper
· Egg Cartons
· Pizza Boxes
· Styrofoam
· Anything other than the acceptable materials above
If you would like a green bag delivered to your home, please the City of Andalusia’s Public Works Department at 222-0862. All recycling bags need to be placed out for pickup by 6 a.m. on garbage pickup day or the night before.
Mayor Earl Johnson on Thursday introduced Larry Avery as the newest member of the Andalusia Leadership Hall of Fame. The award was presented during the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet.
“Our honoree came to Andalusia as a young engineer, likely expecting this to be another step in his career path. But he put down roots and got to work not just at his job, but also in our community,” Johnson said. “Andalusia is a better place, thanks to the leadership of Larry Avery.”
A native of Brent, Alabama, Avery served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and in the Coast Guard Reserves before beginning his engineering career at Central Power and Light in Corpus Christi, Texas. He also worked for Alabama Power.
In 1977, he joined AEC – now known as PowerSouth - as a distribution engineer. He also has served as superintendent of power transmission, operating services manager, E and O Division Manager, Vice President of Engineering and Operations, and Vice President of Power Delivery.
“Larry established a culture of improving reliability during the time he was transmission superintendent by focusing on preventive maintenance of transmission assets to improve transmission reliability.
“Upon his retirement, PowerSouth named its headquarters building for Larry. PowerSouth President and CEO Gary Smith said at the time, ‘Naming the building after Larry is an honor that speaks to his impact on PowerSouth and our community. He has had a tremendous and long-lasting influence on both engineering and operations, while guiding the Power Delivery Division with strong leadership for 30 years.’
“Larry’s impact in our community begins with his 40-plus year, dedicated membership in the Andalusia Kiwanis Club, where he led many charitable endeavors,” the mayor said in his introduction. “Larry has at times been a member of the Kiwanis Club Board of Directors, the Kiwanis Fair Association Board of Directors and the Kiwanis Foundation Board of Directors. In each position Larry has used his considerable leadership skills in piloting the club to invest in the lives of children in the Covington County area and in helping administer its regular club duties.
“The club has recognized him both as a Kiwanis Member of the Year, and, in 2012, with the club’s highest prize for community involvement, naming him the 2012 Citizen of the Year.
“Larry’s name also is synonymous with Community Christmas, which provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of underprivileged children each year,” Johnson said. “He was the founding president in 2003, and continued in that role until early 2019.
“Larry has served as president of the LBW Community College Foundation; chaired the hospital board; chaired the city’s Board of Zoning Adjustments; served on the city’s Recreation Board and its Events and Hospitality Committee.
“He is a deacon and active member of First Baptist Church of Andalusia, where he also is a Sunday School teacher. He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of two children and the grandparents of five grandchildren.
“Please join me in congratulating my friend Larry Avery as the newest member of the Andalusia Leadership Hall of Fame,” the mayor said.
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