Local residents might have a little more jingle in their pockets to spend on Christmas, as gas prices are down slightly this week at an average of $3.13 per gallon.
Gas prices are down 30 cents locally from six months ago, but still higher than this time last year.
Locally, Andalusia’s average is $3.13 per gallon, with the cheapest gas found at Cannon Oil and Murphy USA at $3.06 per gallon.
Opp’s average is $3.14 per gallon, down from last week. The cheapest gas was found at the Road Runner BP on Hwy. 84 and the Cummings Ave. Tom Thumb at $3.07 per gallon.
Florala’s average is higher than last week by a penny at $3.20 per gallon.
In North Alabama, places like Fort Payne are reporting gas a little as $2.99 a gallon. The state average is $3.09 per gallon.
However, Clay Ingram, AAA spokesperson said gas prices may drop a little bit more during December, but not much.
“There is a good chance for prices to drop some during January and February, as that is the normal trend,” he said. “But until the end of the year, I don’t think we’ll see much of a drop in prices.”
Still, the small decrease could be good news as the Labor Department said the consumer price index stayed flat last month, namely due to dropping gas prices, which in turn could bolster retail sales this holiday season.
This year, gas prices are down on average 70 to 80 cents from their peak, and those pennies are translating into a billion dollars, according to national economists.
Sageworks, Inc., a financial information company recently said that sales for private retailers have been increasing between 5 and 6 percent this year.
It is expected that those sales will continue to increase if consumers spend the cash they are saving on gas.
Nationally, New Mexico has the lowest gas prices at $2.90 a gallon, and Alaska has the highest at $4 per gallon.
There still are good people in this world, and some are in the giving spirit this holiday season – at least that’s what two local ladies found out recently.
Sisters Nell Riley and Nita Fain of Andalusia, both legally blind, said a total stranger became their Christmas angel during a recent retail excursion.
“We were at the Dollar Tree,” she said. “Nita’s husband, Herbert, helped us get into the store. We were looking for poinsettias to go on our parents’ graves. One of the clerks took us to the poinsettias.
“When we were finished, my sister asked her husband if he would take us to the car before he made the purchases,” she said. “We left the poinsettias at the counter. When he went back to pay for them, the clerk told him that a lady ahead of him paid for our flowers.”
Riley said something like that had never happened to them before.
“It just touched me,” she said. “I have no idea who the lady was, but she is an angel. It’s so nice to know that nice people are around here. I would love to thank her for her generosity. She didn’t have to do that, but we really do appreciate it.
“I’m sure there are others who have been helped this season, too,” she said.
Nationwide there have been reports of generous people paying off layaways and other things in the spirit of giving.
Children from around the county received Christmas cheer last night at the annual Community Christmas. Above: Amaya Williams, 4, won a bicycle.
While most are throwing out sparks of holiday spirit, students at Andalusia Elementary School are doing one better by combining that holiday spirit with a heavy dose of patriotism.
Recently, students in the second, third and fifth grades have worked to give service members serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom how much they appreciate what they do for all Americans.
First, third graders in Beth Weed’s class drew patriotic pictures for Veterans Day, which were sent to the 278th Signal Company “Spartans,” stationed at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan.
This week, students were presented a certificate of appreciation from the group.
“Your generosity symbolized the will and resolve of the American people to stand strong, defeat all who attempt to bring us harm and bring peace, security and stability to the people of Afghanistan,” the certificate read.
And on Friday, Santa got a little help from students in the second and fifth grades that, instead of exchanging presents among themselves, elected to bring a gift for a soldier.
Second grade teacher Ashley Black said the project was a group effort among all the teachers.
“The students were very receptive of the idea,” she said. “It was actually the second year we did it, and support this year was great. I think our service men (and women) will be pleased to receive all those goodies.”
Students donated numerous food items like microwave popcorn and nuts, as well as reading material and games.
The items were picked up by local veterans and taken to Pack-N-Ship, who will ship the items. Both projects were facilitated by Paul Spears Jr., an Andalusia resident currently working for a private company in Afghanistan, who hand- delivered the posters to a neighboring unit and helped coordinate the distribution of gifts to an Alabama National Guard unit stationed in Kabul.
John Hall, a two-tour Vietnam vet and Purple Heart recipient, helped Friday with the collections at the school.
“It’s an incredible feeling, when you’re serving, to know that someone at home thinks enough of you to send you something,” Hall said. “I would get something from my mom and my aunt when I was in, but to get something from someone that you don’t even known, would do wonders for morale and for what you were put there to do.”
Gary Castillo, a U.S. Air Force veteran, also assisted with the collections. He served two tours with Operation Desert Storm.
“I’ve been there – it means the world,” he said of the donations. “You’re there to do a duty, to serve our country. When roll call came around, it didn’t matter if it was a letter or cookies. It came from home and that meant the world.”
The local Adopt-A-Deployed-Family group is covering the shipping costs, which is estimated at $200; however, donations are still being accepted at Pack-N-Ship to help cover the costs.
Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded grants totaling $678,701 to combat illegal drugs and drug-related violent crime in seven south Alabama counties – including nearly $100,000 for the fight in Covington County.
The total funding will also help support drug task forces that operate in Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Escambia, Mobile and Washington counties. The task forces conduct undercover operations to arrest and prosecute drug offenders, find and dismantle dangerous methamphetamine laboratories and assist with other violent crime investigations.
“Illegal drugs are a destructive force that damages lives and communities,” Bentley said. “I commend the agents of these task forces for their dedication to protecting Alabama families by removing drugs and drug offenders from our neighborhoods.”
Formed in 2000, the 22nd Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force will use the $98,800 grant to continue its operations and investigations. The unit is comprised of five investigators from the county Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of Andalusia and Opp, and one prosecutor from the District Attorney’s Office. Local matching funds of $32,933 have been committed to the unit.
“The war on drugs is everlasting and the Drug Task Force is the best tool we have to fight that war,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell, whose office is tasked with prosecuting drug cases. “Without this money, there would be no task force. So, we are extremely grateful to the Governor and ADECA for awarding us this grant.”