Count them: Three BCS championships in a row won by teams in the state of Alabama.
Six in a row for the SEC.
A third BCS championship for Alabama’s head football coach Nick Saban, the only coach to have won the championship at two different schools, and the only coach with three to his credit.
And 14 national championships for the University of Alabama. Paint the state crimson, white and crystal.
And did we mention zero? As in points scored by Alabama’s opponent, the much-heralded and previously undefeated LSU, who fell 21-0 in a “home game” in New Orleans?
In Andalusia, fans celebrated by rushing out to buy championship memorabilia. At Hibbett’s Sporting Goods, the doors opened minutes after the game to a line of shoppers that stretched far into the parking lot. The shopping inside was best described as “chaotic.”
Downtown, fans paraded “backward” or clockwise around the square, as opposed to the normal counter-clockwise route. It was Sue Bass Wilson’s idea, and Police Chief Wilbur Wilson, also a ‘Bama fan, agreed Monday afternoon that if the home team won, his officers would direct traffic. A caravan of more than 30 vehicles followed her from WAAO around the square, waving flags and honking their horns.
Rammer jammer, yellow hammer. It’s great to be from Alabama!
A handful of participants were on hand Monday to “shed some light” on transportation issues facing Covington County.
The group attended a public hearing sponsored by the Southeast Alabama Rural Planning Organization, where citizens were allowed to give input on safety complaints and suggestions on local transportation needs.
Dan and Marlene McLaren of Andalusia live just off Debro Hill. The couple said they had two main concerns about the county’s roadways.
“First, I think the entrance into Anda-lusia needs to be upgraded with some lighting,” Dan said. “It would be nice if it could be like the southern entrance. It’s got the old county sign out, the one that’s got the Masons and such, and out there at Andalusia Marine.
“I think it should be out at the city limits,” he said. “It would help to have lighting on it to show the people coming in from (Interstate 65) how much we love our city.
“You know the first impression is the last one,” he said. “We should make it count.”
His wife Marlene said the area known as ‘Debro Hill’ also needs lighting.
“Especially considering the new apartment complex set to be constructed this year,” she said. “They’ll probably need a stop light there.
“Something needs to be done about lighting the whole place up before the traffic gets heavy there,” she said.
A July groundbreaking is set for a 104-apartment complex, which is proposed to have one, two and three bedroom units, with rents for each set at $670, $750 and $840 per month. Amenities will include a clubhouse with pool, business center, workout room, and laundry and carwash areas.
Also attending the meeting were Opp City Planner Don Childre and Florala Mayor Robert Williamson.
Childre said Opp, too, has a need for additional lighting along two of its major roadways.
“We’ve got two intersections where lights are badly needed,” Childre said. “One is on (U.S. Hwy.) 84 and the other is on (U.S. Hwy. 331). At night, it’s pitch black, no light. And we’re working right now to try and get help installing new lights.”
Andrew Windham, the SEARPO representative who conducted the meeting, said issues discussed at the meeting will now be taken to the second part of a three part committee process.
“From here, this information will be taken to a technical committee, which is comprised of county engineers and transportation experts,” Windham said. “Then, the results of that meeting will be forwarded to the policy committee made up of mayors and local officials.”
Windham also discussed the county’s five-year transportation improvement plan, which calls for the painting of several bridges, the installation of sidewalks in Florala, bridge replacement on U.S. Hwy. 84 over Yellow River, the widening and resurfacing of U.S. Hwy. 84 from the Conecuh County line to ½-mile west of River Falls and a bridge replacement on Ala. Hwy. 55.
The complete improvement plan can be found on the state website at dot.state.al.us.
Site work on a $2.5 million automobile dealership in Sanford should be under way in the coming days, officials said Thursday.
Johnny Jackson, owner of JM Jackson Buick-Chevrolet, said the groundbreaking ceremony for the Opp retailer’s new business will be held Jan. 12 at 10 a.m.
“Site work is beginning now,” he said. “We should be seeing some machinery in the next few days. We anticipate it will take probably 60 to 90 days to complete. We hope to start the building – hopefully – in the April timeframe.”
Jackson said architectural plans for the 6-acre site located across from the South Alabama Regional Airport will have some last-minute revisions, and he hopes to have those finalized in the next 45-60 days.
Jackson said the new dealership was a corporate requirement when the company signed its new contract with General Motors.
“We will sell Chevrolet and Buick at this point,” he said. “We hope as we move forward with this project, we can add more. We have requested that GM let us have our Cadillac back and maybe add GMC. We are in the talking stages right now, so we don’t know yet.”
The company had originally intended to relocate to a 7-acre site on the Opp Bypass; however, when GM realigned its dealerships after the government bailout, the local dealership’s territory expanded to include the entire county, and other areas.
Jackson said the new location would allow the dealership to better serve its customers.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for us,” he said. “Locating in the center of the county is critical for us to be able to serve all of our customers. We have customers in parts of Butler, Crenshaw, Coffee and Geneva counties, as well. We have a large area of responsibility. We feel locating centrally is the best thing to do.”
Jackson said the dealership’s entire operation – from sales to service to its used car lot – will move to the new location.
“The decision whether to keep a used car lot in Opp has not be made,” he said. “We’d like to keep a satellite office.”
When the dealership is complete, Jackson said he’ll hire more employees.
“Right now, we employ 15,” he said. “We’ll add three more sales people, three service techs, one parts person and one full-time business person.”
Jackson said he hopes to be in the new location within eight months.
“Hopefully we’ll be in by the end of this year at the latest,” she said. “But that’s all depending on the weather.”
Jackson said anyone who wishes to attend the groundbreaking is welcome to do so.
Tickets are now available for the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce’s 89th Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet to be held at the Kiwanis Community Center on the South Bypass on Thurs., Jan. 19.
This year’s key-note speaker will be Jim Go-ssett, a comedian and an impr-essionist who has entertained groups such as IBM, Chevron, Johnson and Johnson, and Coca Cola. In concert, he has opened shows for Barbara Mandrell, Paul Anka, Tim Allen, Rita Rudner, and Jay Leno.
Gossett has appeared on Comedy Central and appeared regularly on “America’s Funniest People.” He has appeared at The Comedy Store and Improv in Los Angeles, as well as comedy clubs across the country.
During the banquet, the Chamber will recognize its elementary, middle and high school teachers of the year, its student of the year and present two citizen awards. In addition, this year, the chamber has added awards for small and large businesses of the year.
Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber office, temporarily located at 807 CC Baker Avenue. The cost will be $30 for Chamber members and $35 for non-chamber members and $20 for students.
Country music’s “Small Town Girl” will hit the stages of the largest event in Opp, as she headlines the Saturday night show at the Rattlesnake Rodeo, Opp Mayor H.D. Edgar confirmed Wednesday.
“I got the call late (Tuesday) night,” he said. “Kellie Pickler accepted our offer to come to the rodeo.”
Pickler, who gained fame from the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, has signed to 19 recordings and a recording contract with BNA records.
Her debut album, “Small Town Girl” has sold more than 800,000 copies.
Pickler will release her third album “100 Proof” at the end of the month.
The album features her single “Tough,” which is based on her relationship with her father.
Edgar said rodeo officials are “excited” about Pickler coming to the two-day event.
“Well, we’re excited to have her coming to Opp in concert,” he said. “She’s a really popular young person that puts on a great show. We’re tickled, and we think people around here will enjoy her.”
Two months ago, Edgar announced that country music singer Travis Tritt will headline the Friday night show.
He is famous for songs such as “Help Me Hold On,” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive.”
“We know if we can get the girls to come, the guys will, too,” he said.
Admission is $15 per person, per day to the event, which will include the Tritt concert and snake show on Friday and local entertainment, snake show, greasy pole climb, buck dancing contest and the Pickler contest on Saturday. Advanced tickets will be available in the coming weeks.
Gates will open at 3 p.m. on Fri., March 30, and 8 a.m. on Sat., March 31.