The current forecast calls for a hard freeze over the next seven day in Covington County. The City of Andalusia and the City of Andalusia Utilities encourages residents to prepare for cold weather by wrapping pipes and/or leaving them dripping. Also, the City and the Andalusia Fire Department urge residents to use caution in heating their homes
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OFFERS THESE TIPS FOR WINTER WEATHER SAFETY:
- Winter weather can bring life-threatening conditions. Stay indoors and wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight warm clothes.
- Check on relatives, neighbors, and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.
- Protect pipes from freezing.
- If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice, or other obstacles.
HOME FIRES AND SPACE HEATERS
- Protect your home from accidental fires:
- Never use a stove or oven to heat your home. If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Place space heaters on a level, hard surface, and keep anything flammable at least three feet away. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage. Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. Connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
POWER OUTAGE SAFETY
Power outages are not expected. However, PowerSouth, which is the City of Andalusia's energy provider, traditionally experiences peak demand during cold weather events. In the event of a power outage, please use these tips:
- Don’t drive unless necessary. Traffic lights will be out and roads could be congested.
- Turn off and unplug any appliances, equipment, and electronics. When the power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.
- If a power outage is two hours or less, don’t be concerned about losing perishable foods. During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first. Then, use food from the freezer. If the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and cover it at all times.
- If you are using a generator, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions.
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement, or another partially enclosed area. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows, and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
- Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
The City of Andalusia's Department of Public Works will use the following schedule for holiday pick-ups.
No pick-up on Friday, Dec. 22 or Monday, Dec. 25.
Friday's and Monday's garbage will be picked up on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
Tuesday's and Wednesday's routes will be picked upon Wednesday, Dec. 27.
No pick-up on Monday, Jan. 1
Monday's route will be picked upon Tuesday, Jan. 2, along with Tuesday's routes.
The City of Andalusia’s elves have been working for weeks to prepare for this Friday’s opening of the 10th Christmas in Candyland. But a number of other groups have been working to stage special events, too.
Here’s a rundown of all the reasons Country Living magazine named Andalusia one of the 30 most magical Christmas towns:
• LBW’s Holiday Concert and Tree Lighting – Tuesday, Nov. 28, 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., Andalusia campus.
• Annual Christmas Parade – Thursday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. There are 119 entries in this year’s parade!
• Ribbon Cutting for Candyland – Friday, Dec. 1, Court Square, 9 a.m.
• Candyland opens to the public – Friday, Dec. 1, 5 p.m. See related article for full details, or click here.
• Evening in Bethlehem, a drive-through Nativity presented by First Baptist Church, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 and 3, 6 until 8 p.m.
• Alabama’s Little Britches Rodeo is at the Covington Center Arena, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free to the public.
• Pilots’ Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, Dec. 2, 5:30 a.m. until noon
• Pilots’ Tour of Homes, Sunday, Dec. 2, 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tickets available at Bluebird on Sunday afternoon.
• Andalusia Ballet presents “Nutcracker,” Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7, 8 and 9, 7 p.m. Matinee on Saturday at 2 p.m. Performance in the Dixon Center for the Performing Arts on the Andalusia campus of LBW Community College.
• Lower Alabama Community Choir presents “Sounds of the Season,” a Christmas concert, Tuesday, Dec. 12, in the Dixon Center for the Performing Arts on the Andalusia campus of LBW Community College. Admission is free.
• “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson, presented by Covington County Schools for one night only! Friday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Dixon Center for the Performing Arts on the Andalusia campus of LBW Community College. Tickets are $15 each.
The City of Andalusia and the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon for the 10th Christmas in Candyland at 9 a.m. this Friday, Dec. 1.
Andalusia Elementary School’s kindergarten students will be on hand for the ribbon cutting on the Court Square, which is slated to feature lots of snow. After kindergarten’s play time, the fun will move to the Springdale on Ice location, where AES’s 6th graders will get a sneak peak.
The venues officially open to the public at 5 p.m.
To celebrate the 10th year, the City of Andalusia purchased a new Christmas tree that is 50 feet tall and is 20 feet larger in circumference at the base. Additional photo backgrounds were added, as well as new C*A*N*D*Y*L*A*N*D signage, reminiscent of the iconic Hollywood sign.” There is a new, larger cocoa ball pit, and more snow than ever.
Santa and Elsa will be on site every weekend.
The City and Chamber also partnered with Meredith’s Miracles, a local charity which provides assistance for non-medical expenses when a family has to travel out of town for specialty medical care for children. Meredith’s Miracles is providing entertainment with their Disney characters, as well as Mickey and Minnie and Elsa meet-and-greets. The charity also is the only non-food vendor on site.
Christmas in Candyland began as a quality of life project dreamed up by the Chamber of Commerce to provide activities for local children. Over the years, Andalusia has experienced a 35% growth in retail sales during the month of December, as well as a 50% increase in lodging receipts.
Basic hours are listed below. For more details, check the calendar on this page, or visit christmasincandyland.com.
Dec. 1 - 17
Fridays: 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Saturdays: 1 p.m. until 9 p.m.
-Santa will be at Springdale from 1 until 5 p.m.
-Elsa will be in the Frozen Garden from 4 until 6 p.m.
-Characters in Candyland Show – 6 p.m.
Sundays: 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
-Santa will be at Springdale from 2 until 5 p.m.
-Elsa will be in the Frozen Garden from 2 until 4 p.m.
-Characters in Candyland Show – 4 p.m.
Cocoa with Characters
Saturday, Dec. 9, 4 until 6 p.m. Meredith’s Miracles will bring ALL the characters for photo ops, and we’ll serve up some hot cocoa to keep you warm.
Santa Send Off
We’ll usher Santa off to the North Pole with fireworks at closing time.
Thursday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
-Elsa will be in the Frozen Garden from 4 until 6 p.m.
-Mickey and Minnie will be on site from 4 until 6 p.m.
-Characters in Candyland Show – 6 p.m.
Also open Dec. 29 and 30
Friday: 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Saturday: 1 p.m. until 9 p.m.
- Mickey and Minnie will be on site from 4 until 6 p.m.
The City of Andalusia’s 2023-24 Ambassadors had their first official duties on Nov. 5 when they assisted with the Covington Veteran Association’s “Celebration of Heroes.” They also will be a part of the City of Andalusia’s Veterans Day activities on Saturday, Nov. 11.
This year’s ambassadors include Andalusia High School students who are active in all aspects of high school live, and many extra-curricular activities. They are directed by Mrs. Jerri Stroud and Mrs. Debbie Posey, and are selected by a committee through written and oral interviews.
Parker Adams plays baseball and football at AHS. He is a member of Usher Club and Spanish Club, and is active in the Mill Creek Baptist Church youth group. He is the son of Kyle and Tori Adams, and plans to pursue an aerospace engineering degree at Mississippi State University.
Nataleigh Brown is an AHS senior. She is a member of the AHS broadcasting staff, Anchor Club, Key Club and Andala staff, and serves as junior director for Meredith’s Miracles. She is the daughter of Leigh Hugghins and Tony Brown and plans to study broadcast journalism at Auburn University.
Cade Cassady is an AHS junior. He plays gold and baseball at AHS and is active in the youth group of First Baptist Church. He also enjoys water sports and skeet shooting. He is the son of Mike and Candace Cassady, and plans to pursue a biology degree at Auburn University.
Nyla Crittenden is an AHS senior. She is vice president of her class, president of the Usher Club, secretary of the Student Government Association, vice president of FCCLA, and a member of the National Honors Society and Spanish Club. She plays clarinet in the AHS A Sound Tradition, and dances at Andalusia Dance, Tumbling and Cheer (ADTC). She is the daughter of Tiffany Stallworth, and plans to pursue a pre-veterinary medicine curriculum in integrative biology at Auburn University.
Amari Larkin is an AHS junior. He is a member of the football team, has worked with Meals on Wheels, and is active in the First Baptist Church Whatley Street’s youth department. He is the son of Traci Locke, and plans to study computer science at Auburn University.
Brody Lee is an AHS senior who is active in band, tennis, Usher Club, Key Club, and Spanish Club. He is the son of Randall and Katie Lee, and plans to study at Auburn University.
John Logan Long is an AHS senior. He is president of Key Club, Student Government Association treasurer, class treasurer, and Usher Club treasurer. He is the saxophone section leader for AHS’s A Sound Tradition, a member of the National Honor Society, and serves on the Memolusia staff. He is the son of Rik and Kristin Long who plans to pursue a business major at Auburn, and a law degree at Alabama.
Cape Merrell is a senior at AHS. She serves as Student Government Association president, is captain of the varsity cheerleaders, and a member of the volleyball team. She also is a member of the Youth Leadership Council, Anchor Club, Usher Club and National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Walt and Hannah Merrell and plans to pursue a biomedical engineering degree from Georgia Tech.
Ivy Rogers is an AHS senior who dances with the Andalusia Ballet, is an AHS majorette, and a member of First United Methodist Church. She is Covington County’s current Distinguished Young Woman and will compete in Alabama’s DYW program in January. She is the daughter of Scott and Tina Rogers who plans to study biomedical sciences in her first step toward becoming a dermatologist.
Hugh Wallace Stovall is an AHS senior. He plays football and tennis, is a member of the National Honor Society and the Usher Club, and is active in the First Methodist Church youth group. He also enjoys hunting and fishing. He is the son of Justin and Ashley Stovall and plans to pursue a forestry degree from Auburn University.
Ava Tomberlin is an AHS senior. She is a class president, vice president of the Student Government Association, a majorette, and a member of Key Club, Peer Helpers, Usher Club and Spanish Club. She is the daughter of John Tomberlin and Krystal Tomberlin who plans to study chemistry/pre-med at Auburn University. She plans to become an anesthesiologist.
Cindy Williams is an AHS senior. She is a member of the band and color guard, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Key Club, Usher Club, Student Government Association and the Memolusia yearbook staff. She also dances with the Andalusia Ballet. She is the daughter of Hui and Gary Williams, and plans to study graphic design at Auburn University.
The ambassador committee accepts applications, which are distributed by AHS counselors, each spring.