Andalusia Police Chief Wilbur Williams has been appointed to the municipal law enforcement seat on the state’s Homeland Security Task Force.
The appointment was made by Sen. Del Marsh, president pro tem of the Alabama Senate based on the recommendation of Spencer Collier, director of Homeland Security.
Williams said he has known Collie, a former Alabama State Trooper, for a number of years.
“He was here in April for our pistol competition, and a frank conversation we had that day led to this,” Williams said.
The relationship between Homeland Security and the law enforcement community hasn’t always been great, he said.
“If you look at Homeland Security, we are part and parcel and integral to it,” he said. “If we have a terrorist attack, all of us have to coordinate to get people safely where they need to be.”
Williams said in Alabama there is much greater threat of domestic than international terrorism. But Homeland Security is also part of the response effort in natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes.
“The appointment of Andalusia’s chief to this statewide and very important committee is conformation of the quality of our police department in Andalusia,” Mayor Earl Johnson said.
“It is a singular honor for him and there is hard work that comes with it,” Johnson said. “It also is recognition for the outstanding quality of people working in our city.”
By statute, the 23-member task force is chaired by the governor and includes the state’s director of Homeland Security; director of Emergency Management; adjutant general; attorney general; commissioner of agriculture and industries; the state health officer; the director of public safety; the director of transportation; the director of finance; the director of the Alabama Port Authority; the state fire marshal; and representatives municipal government; county law enforcement agencies; municipal law enforcement agencies; paid fire volunteer fire departments; local emergency management agencies; of local emergency communications districts; airport authorities; the judicial branch of government.
The City of Andalusia’s Web site now has a link to live cam with which to track construction progress being made at Johnson Park.
The link is available from the city’s Web page, cityofandalusia.com, and Mayor Earl Johnson said live cam links to the expansion of Vector Aerospace at South Alabama Regional Airport and construction at Church Street School will be added soon.
As many 85 children per day have taken advantage of the Will Coleman Community Recreation Center Summer Enrichment Program this summer.
Beginning at 9 a.m. each morning, campers, ages 5 to 14, have the opportunity to study reading and math, receive a nutritious lunch, and participate in enrichment activities such as attending ballet camp at the Andalusia Ballet. Campers also participate in recreation at the end of the day, which includes everything from swimming to basketball. Andalusia head basketball coach Richard Robertson founded the program years ago and is the coordinator. Above: Chandler D. Stoudemire and Dorien Davis play on the slide together.
Residents in the Murphree Drive apartment complex will still have to pick up their mail at the Andalusia Post Office, officials said Friday.
On Monday, mail delivery was suspended to the apartment complex following a fourth circumstance in which the postal carrier encountered “a threat of injury or attack by dogs roaming loose.”
Debra Fetterly, communication program specialist for the Alabama and South Florida districts of the USPS said after three attempts on Thursday and another on Friday, Andalusia Postmaster Mike Kolmetz was finally able to speak to the apartment complex manager.
“She was in the office, and they discussed the situation,” Fetterly said. “The apartment manager said it was the residents’ fault and that they had been told not to have unapproved animals in the complex.”
USPS will continue to hold the mail for the residents, until the complex has installed mail receptacles for curb line or centralized delivery, Fetterly said.
Residents may pick up their mail from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday. On Thursdays and Saturdays, they can pick up mail from 9 a.m. until noon.
Do your children love to perform? Do they love to be the center of attention on stage?
If so, the LAAC’s second annual theater camp might be the choice for them.
LAAC member Myra Walker said there are 10 slots left in the camp, which begins next Wed., July 6, and runs through Fri., July 15.
Actors and actresses, under the direction of Cathy Powell, will learn and perform “Be-Bop with Aesop,” which includes favorites such as Sammy the Squirrel, Harvey the Hare, Flint the Fox, Hanna the Hedgehog and Toby the Tortoise, which have been changed up a bit to add a comedy.
Among the stories incorporated are the “Milkmaid and her Pail,” “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
“This is going to be a fun experience for the students,” Walker said.
Cost is $75 per child.
Call 222-3205 for more information or to register.