Though they graduated in different decades, the four alumni honored as Outstanding Andalusia High School graduates on Friday said their alma mater prepared them well for college and life.
The eldest, Ed Henderson, graduated in 1939; Sidney Waits graduated in 1942; Earl Johnson and Paula Sue Duebelt each graduated in 1965. In the 26-year span, they had some of the same teachers.
Henderson said he often reflects on “what great teachers we had.”
“I didn’t’ realize it at the time,” he said. But he said he was well prepared for Auburn University.
Johnson said the teachers, along with each individual’s family and church “loved, nurtured and taught us. They disciplined us, and framed us up for who we would become.”
Duebelt, who was the first woman to receive the award, said, “You just have no idea how wonderful it makes me feel.”
The four joined a class of previous honorees who include W. Robert Brown (Class of 1948); Murray Findley (Class of 1948); Jim Krudop (Class of 1965); Robert Horry (Class of 1988); Dr. Ben Roberts (Class of 1991); Charles Brooks Sr. (Class of 1939); Coach Richard Robertson (Class of 1961); and Dr. Jack Sasser (Class of 1954).
The Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce will be working from its new office on River Falls Street beginning Mon., Oct. 7.
The Chamber, through a partnership with the City of Andalusia, is moving in to the former headquarters of Alatex.
The facility also will be a welcome center. Later in October, a monument to textile workers will be dedicated.
For complete details, see the Chamber Impact insert in today’s Star-News.
PE facility could open by homecoming
If all goes well, students at Andalusia High School will get to break in their new physical education facility just in time for homecoming.
Superintendent Ted Watson said the building process has been plagued by bad weather and some change orders have backed up the process.
“I’m hoping we can be in there for homecoming, which is in three weeks,” he said. “It’s certainly not where we wanted it to be, but we are making process.”
Andalusia head football coach Brian Seymore said Tuesday it’s still up in the air on when his team will be able to use the new facility.
“I don’t know when the final inspection day is, but it seems like they’re getting closer and closer,” he said.
And until the building passes final inspection, Watson said the building doesn’t technically belong to the school system.
“We get into all kinds of liability issues there,” he said. “So, we can’t have any classes or teams use the facility until then.”
Still, Seymore said the players and coaches are getting excited about it.
“It’ll be a nice facility,” he said. “It’ll be a big deal, not just for the football program, but school-wide – band, flag girls and that’s what it’s for. I think it’ll be pretty neat. A lot of folks will have a chance to utilize it.”
Andrew Garner, Kendra Bolling contributed to this report.
There’s a certain skill to kicking in doors and arresting drug dealers.
There’s also a great deal of training that goes into it, as well.
This week, some 17 law enforcement officers from local, state and surrounding agencies participated in the training exercise hosted at the Wilbur W. Williams Law Enforcement Training Center.
Taught using a technique called “scenario-based training,” officers conducted hands-on extraction missions.
“The purpose of this training is to successfully extricate undercover officers from bad situations,” said Lt. Paul Hudson, with the Andalusia Police Department. “Simply, that means teaching people to get in and out safely while taking down the bad guy.”
And locals may have noticed the exercises being conducted at the old Cedar Apartments near Church’s Chicken. Men armed and in riot gear have spent the last five days practicing a number of techniques – including entry and extraction – in addition to classroom time.
Chief Williams said the class, while hosted by the Andalusia Police Department, was brought by Investigative Techniques Unlimited and sponsored by the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy. It is designed to train surveillance officers, undercover officers and other investigators how to plan undercover missions and what to do when things go wrong.
Officers with the APD, the Alabama Beverage Control Board and Dothan, Brewton, Geneva and Defuniak Springs, Fla., police departments participated.
Those looking for some cool, but healthy snacks are in for a treat at “Yo’ Craving” yogurt bar on the Square in Andalusia.
Covington County native Rhonda Bullion held a soft opening on Tuesday for her new business.
“I wanted to open something for the health conscious people around here,” she said. “We carry Honey Hill yogurt, which is the No.1 yogurt.”
Bullion said the frozen yogurt contains viable counts of live active cultures.
Yo’ Craving offers a variety of flavors including cheese cake, birthday cake, dreamy dark chocolate, Tahitian vanilla, cookies and cream, cupcake, peanut butter and strawberry sensations.
Toppings include chocolate, white chocolate, Ghirardelli chocolates, raspberry, kiwi-lime, mango, lemon zest and cinnamon syrups; fresh strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe. Candy pieces like Snickers, Reese Cups, Skittles, M&Ms, and more are a hit, and for cereal lovers, there’re Cocoa Pebbles, Fruity Pebbles, Fruit Loops and Golden Grahams.
And there’s a streamlined process for getting your frozen treats – choose your flavors, top it, weigh and pay, and enjoy. Cost is 47 cents per ounce.
“We’re taking suggestions for flavors and toppings,” she said. “We’re going to have the ooey-gooey cinnamon bun coming soon, and we’ll be adding more toppings.”
Bullion said they plan to add music and television later, and free wi-fi is available.
“We’ll also be adding top your own funnel cakes,” she said. “Coffee and cappuccino will come winter time.”
Bullion said she recently left the retail world in Florida, where she was in marketing and operations, to give back to her hometown.
“I was born and raised here, but left after graduation,” she said. “I wanted to bring something back to my hometown and create some jobs.”
Bullion said she wants to create a place that is fun for all – “old and young.”
Bullion said Tuesday’s soft opening was an “exceptional day.”
Additionally, she said she’d like to network with local schools to provide fundraisers to help them raise funds for projects or uniforms.
Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.