It’s located in the city limits of Andalusia, but visitors will feel like they’ve escaped to a getaway in a wooded oasis when The Oaks opens later this fall. 

Jason and Dawn Smith are developing the family RV park and campground on Brooklyn Road. The park offers concrete and gravel RV pads; RV rentals; family cabins; glamping tents; and primitive camping. Amenities include fishing, a bath house with private rooms, a children’s playground complete with zip line, and golf cart rentals for getting back and forth to the spring-fed pond. Visitors will have access to wi-fi in most of the camp. 

Jason Smith said he started researching RV parks and looking at area property about three years ago.

“I saw a need for it,” he said. “My relatives own Boggs and Boulders. I know a lot of folks in the Destin area. My wife is from Illinois and some of her relatives are snow birds. They can be close to the beach without being down there in the middle of it. The parks down there are booked up a year in advance.”

Mayor Earl Johnson said the project is timely and much-needed.

“I was already discussing with our staff the need for an RV park here,” he said. “We couldn’t believe it when Jason came to us with his vision. This development is timely and will be a great asset for Andalusia.” 

Smith said he was looking for property in the county and found the Brooklyn Road location when he went to look at a tractor he was interested in buying. 

“I ended up buying the property,” he said. “All 32 acres.”

He had visited a number of RV parks as he looked for just the right location, so once he had the property, he designed the park and got to work. 

And while he’ll be ready to open in November, he won’t be finished with the park. He plans to add a splash pad, a dog park, and a barbecue pit. By next spring, the Smiths will add kayak and canoe trips to the menu at The Oaks.  

As word of the new park has spread by word of mouth, the response has been positive. People are already contacting The Oaks for rentals, Jason Smith said. 

“We don’t have the cabins up yet, and they’re all rented for Thanksgiving,” he said. 

The Oaks will have three cottages, each of which will sleep five people. Each has a full kitchen, living room and bath. 

He also has several reservations for RV pads in November, ahead of the grand opening set for Dec. 13-14. 

A ribbon cutting is set for 10 a.m. on Fri., Dec. 13. On Saturday, the Smiths are inviting the public in to see the facility and will have Today’s Yesterday’s Band from 5 until 9 p.m., with barbecue from Hilltop. 

The Oaks is located at 13421 Brooklyn Road. Additional information and online reservations are available at www.oaksfamilyrv.com. The Smiths can also be reached at , or 334.313.8164.

Downtown Abbey,the box-office smash hit based on the PBS series that opened last weekend nationwide will be on the big screen in Andalusia beginning Friday. 

Mack Clark, owner of Clark Theatres, said movie suppliers initially said it would be two weeks before he could show Downtonhere, but persistence paid off. 

“I kept after him, and agreed to pay an audience guarantee, so will have it on two screens beginning Friday night.”

Clark said Downton is scheduled for 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday. 

On Saturday and Sunday, Clark Theatres will show Downtonat 1 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:!5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance from Clark Theatres’ website, https://clarkcinemas.com/andalusia/.For those fans who need to entertain the kids while the adults are enjoying a royal escape, the family-friendly Abdominablealso is showing this weekend, Clark said.

Downton Abbeynetted a whopping $31 million in domestic ticket sales in its first weekend, and beat out all others, including Brad Pitt's science fiction film Ad Astra, which came in at $19.2 million, and Rambo: Last Blood, which reached a similar $19 million. It also topped two well-performing, previously-released movies: Hustlers at $17 million, and It: Chapter Two with $17.2 million.

A local JC Penney’s manager has been charged with theft in a bizarre case that began with a scam.

Malik Monte’ Stough, 22, of Brantley, told officers he believed he was assisting the United States Marshall’s Service when he took more than $10,000 in cash from the store. 

The Andalusia Police Department became involved shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29,  when they responded to a call at the local department store and were told a store manager had taken more than $10,000 in cash. Officers took the suspect’s name and a vehicle description and sent out a statewide BOLO (be on the lookout) in an attempt to locate the suspect. 

By approximately 6:30 p.m., the Pike County Sheriff’s Department had detained the suspect in the Spring Hill community of Pike County. APD officers went to Pike County to pick up the suspect, and impounded his vehicle which was transported back to Andalusia. 

Chief Paul Hudson said the suspect told investigators that he believed he was assisting the U.S. Marshal’s Service with an investigation into embezzlement in the local store. Stough said he received a call from someone who identified himself as a U.S. Marshal and said he was working with corporate to locate a thief. 

Stough said the person advised him to take the money from the store, and then had him drive to several different locations, buying Money Pac cards with the money from the store. Stough would then give the caller the information on the back of the card so the caller would be able to access the money.  

Stough said the person threatened to place him in jail if he did not do as instructed.  Stough said he did not realize that he was involved in a phone scam until he spoke by telephone with an Andalusia officer.

Stough was charged with Theft of Property 1^st . His bond was set at $20,000.

Hudson reminds citizens to please be aware of potential scams.

“ There are several scams out there both online and on the phone,” Hudson said. “Some of these scammers represent themselves as federal, state, or local agencies during these scams.  It is recommended that if you receive a call or email asking you to do something involving money and the person or persons contacting you represent themselves as one of these agencies, you get a contact number and then advise them you will call them back and contact your local police to confirm the validity of the call or email.”

The Covington Veterans Foundations will honor local veterans this November by displaying tribute banners on the city square and surrounding streets. The display coincides with The First Inaugural Celebration of Heroes: A Salute to Covington County Veterans, a two-week event that kicks off on Sunday, November 3. CVF Chairman John Vick said other cities in Alabama have tried this and have had great public support and approval for their displays. 

“The display of our local veterans in the public space brings attention to the service and sacrifice of these individuals,” Vick said. “We especially want to highlight our World War II veterans most of which sadly are now gone.”

The public will be able to sponsor a banner for their own local veterans for a cost of only $75. A picture of the veteran in their uniform at the time of their service is desired. The CVF is offering free scanning for those who wish to sponsor a banner. The cost also includes an 8x10 print adaptation of the banner. The banners also will be used for future veterans events.

Forms are available at the CVF office located at the county administrative building (190 Hillcrest Drive, Room 178), and also at the Andalusia, Opp, and Florala Chambers of Commerce. The order form will also be available at the Covington Veterans Foundation Facebook page and at www.andalusiaveterans.com/get-involved. Forms can also be had by calling  (334) 392-0204 or emailing . The deadline for banner sponsorship in 2019 is October 20.