The Andalusia City County on Tuesday got a closer look at new equipment recently acquired by the Public Works Department. Public Works Director Glynn Ralls explained that the new machine allows his department to repair pot holes and other damage to streets with hot mix rather than cold mix asphalt. The machine will hold 4 tons of asphalt, and has a timer so that it can be plugged in and timed to be “hot” when crews arrive at work. The equipment is a joint purchase of the city and the Utilities Board.
Shown from left are council members Hazel Griffin, Ralph Wells, Will Sconiers, Terry Powell and Kennith Mount.
Will be inducted during Thursday night’s Chamber banquet
Earl Johnson will join the distinguished list of members included in Andalusia’s Leadership Hall of Fame when he is inducted at the Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday night.
Johnson is serving his fourth term as mayor of Andalusia, and leading his hometown through what many have described as a renaissance. During his tenure, hundreds of millions of dollars in private, corporate and government funding have been invested in the city’s infrastructure and businesses.
Johnson has worked hard to preserve the history of Andalusia, beginning in his first term with the renovation and repurposing of the beloved East Three Notch Elementary School as Andalusia City Hall. The preservation continued when, in a public-private venture, the Church Street Elementary School was renovated to become the Church Street Cultural Arts Center.
The formula was used again to preserve the former corporate headquarters of AlaTex as the home of the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce.
More recently – and again through public-private partnerships – Andalusia’s downtown historic buildings were preserved and renovated to become Big Mike’s and Milky Moo’s, and the downtown home of Clark Theatres was upgraded to a state-of-the-art facility.
Johnson believes that first impressions count, and, with the support of the city council and numerous grants, has led the effort to improve East Three Notch, River Falls and South Three Notch streets, adding sidewalks and decorative lighting.
The son of a World War II veteran, Johnson also was instrumental in the development of the Veterans Memorial Park, where twice each year events pay tribute to those who have served in the military.
Mayor Johnson has worked with the education community to secure funding to enhance local education services and upgrade facilities, including the addition of a sixth grade wing at Andalusia Elementary; construction of the new Andalusia Junior High School, an indoor practice facility at Andalusia High School, and the ongoing renovations of the AHS stadium and auditorium.
During his tenure, quality of life for local residents also has been improved by continual investment in parks and recreation. Johnson Park was completely renovated, Kirkpatrick Park was added, and the city acquired historic Springdale, establishing its grounds as an additional park.
Long before he was an elected official, as a private pilot, Johnson was an advocate for the South Alabama Regional Airport, serving on its governing board. He has continued to push for infrastructure expansion there as mayor.
The Andalusia Industrial Park was improved and expanded during his tenure, and the city partnered with SaeHaeSung to build a state-of-the-art facility for the company.
He played an instrumental role in Shaw Industries’ decision to invest $250 million to upgrade its local facilities.
Even as he was leading these projects in Andalusia, he also was working to advance his collegiate alma mater, Troy University. He is a member of the Troy University Board of Trustees, and has served in many alumni roles. He was the founding president of the Troy Shield Society, the originator and chairman of the Quad Revitalization Committee, is member and general counsel of the Troy University National Alumni Association of Directors.
Mayor Johnson also is a graduate of the Cumberland School of Law and Samford University, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1974. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar later that year, and has been continuously engaged in private practice in Andalusia since that time.
He serves on the board of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
He has been involved in the civic life of Andalusia through membership on the Andalusia Industrial Development Board, Covington County Economic Development Commission, Andalusia Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Andalusia Rotary Club, Andalusia Lions Club, United Fund, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce, LBW Community College Foundation, and the Covington Arts Council.
He received the Andalusia High School Outstanding Graduate Award in 2012, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Troy University in 2008.
He and his wife, Sylvia, are the parents of two daughters, and the grandparents of three granddaughters and one grandson.
Jack’s Restaurant in Andalusia had an estimated 2,000 people show up for their opening day by 5 p.m., with people traveling from as far south as Jacksonville, Fla., to enjoy Jack’s chicken.
“Today has been absolutely exciting,” area manager David Denmark said. “We expected to be busy and so far it has lived up to our expectation.”
Denmark is excited the most about being in Andalusia because it is the start of Jack’s journey to the South.
“We are very excited because we are in a new town,” Denmark said. “This is allowing us to grow further south. It is opening up the door for us to be able to set our footprint here down in the ‘L.A.’ Our growth plan is to grow all the way down to the beach, so this is opening sets the footprints for that.”
Beginning at 7 a.m. on opening day, the line of cars in the drive thru of Jack’s wrapped around the building, Denmark said.
“On the average, when cars are wrapped around the building like that, it’s about 25 cars,” Denmark said. “And it has been constant like that all day.”
Diane Jarrell and her family planned their vacation all the way from Jacksonville, Fla., around Jack’s opening.
“We lived in Decatur before we moved down to Jacksonville,” Jarrell said. “But our daughter lives in Andalusia. We missed Jack’s because we were able to get it in Decatur. When our daughter told us that they were opening one in Andalusia, we had to plan our trip around this grand opening.”
Davionna Crittenden and Nyesha Mitchell usually have to travel to Montgomery for Jack’s, but now they are able to get it in their hometown.
“The food here is great,” Crittenden said. “I always stop at the one in Montgomery, but now I can stop here and get their hamburgers.”
Mitchell said that she is excited for Jack’s to be in Andalusia because it’s something new.
“I’m excited to come here now,” Mitchell said. “We don’t always have the opportunity to get something new, and the food is good so that is a plus.”
Terrell Howard and her family drove from Brewton to celebrate her birthday at the new Jack’s.
“It is my birthday and we were all talking about it on Facebook about Andalusia getting a Jack’s,” Howard said. “And I just love Jack’s, so I knew I had to come when the grand opening was on my birthday.”
This isn’t the first time that Andalusia has had a Jack’s, and Tiffany Shufford, who was with the Brewton group, made sure to come again, thanks to her fiancé.
“My fiancé told me that they had the best chicken that he has ever tasted when Andalusia used to have a Jack’s,” Shufford said. “So I traveled here from Brewton with them because I needed to try it and see if it was true.”
King Buffet set to open next week in Chen’s location
The owners of Chow King in Dothan have bought out Chen’s Garden in Andalusia and are renovating it to become King Buffet.
King Buffet started renovations on the local building on Jan. 1, and owner Joana Wu said that they hope to be open by Jan. 29.
Wu said that several people have already been calling the restaurant asking about their food and their hours.
“It is crazy how people are already calling,” Wu said. “They are calling the restaurant in Dothan as well asking about the Andalusia location.”
The restaurant is coming to Andalusia because the owners are looking to expand.
“We are originally in Dothan,” Wu said. “But there it is called Chow King. People really do like Chinese food, so we want to be able to spread a little further out, which is why we chose Andalusia.”
King Buffet will showcase food from Asia, Japan and America.
Wu said that they are still hiring for every position.
“We are still short on every position,” Wu said. “We need cooks, servers, and hostesses.”
The owners of King Buffet are originally from China, but they have lived all around the south of the United States.
“We are all Chinese, but we have lived all over,” Wu said. “We have lived in Mississippi, Georgia and now Alabama.”
The hours for King Buffet will be 10:30 a.m., until 9:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
For anyone interested in working at King Buffet, call 334-222-5300.
Mayor says city will offer extensions on utility bills
Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson announced yesterday that the city’s Utilities Department will work with federal employees who are furloughed or working without pay during the government’s shutdown to make sure they can keep their utilities on.
“We are talking about full-time federal employees,” Johnson said. “If they will come into the utilities office in city hall, and bring their work badges, we will make sure their power stays on.”
Once the government shutdown ends, he said, the city will work with the federal employees on payment plans to catch up their bills.
“I’m not sure how many federal employees we have who live here who are affected, but we certainly want to do all that we can to help them,” the mayor said.
Today marks the 27th day of the government shutdown, which began just before Christmas.
According to an analysis of Office of Personnel Management data published The Washington Post last week, there are 5,500 federal employees in Alabama working in the top three agencies affected by the shutdown. Of those, 2,300 are employed by NASA, 1,000 work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which includes the U.S. Forest Service), and 500 work for the U.S. Department of Justice. According to the DOJ website, the department’s essential law enforcement and national security functions will continue during the shutdown.
Both houses of Congress approved a bill guaranteeing federal employees back pay once the government reopened, and President Trump signed the legislation Wednesday.