Earlier this week, Mayor Earl Johnson presented the Andalusia Rotary Club’s Spirit of Andalusia award to Mrs. Jerri Stroud.

This award was established by the club in 2005 to recognize people outside of the Andalusia Rotary Club for contributions in making the city a special place. The club chooses recipients who embody the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” This year’s award was presented on the occasion of the Andalusia Rotary Club’s 100^thanniversary. 

The mayor said it was fitting that Mrs. Stroud would be honored at such a special occasion.

“Her involvement has made countless events like this one special,” he said. 

Mrs. Stroud came to Andalusia as an educator and set high standards for her students. 

“She had a reputation for being able to pull the very best out of students, and a number of doctors, nurses, dentists and other medical professionals emerged from that foundation of her Andalusia High School biology and anatomy classes,” Johnson said. “The high standards she set in the classroom are carried out in every area of her life.” 

At First Baptist Church, she has served as a Sunday School teacher, and been in charge of the grounds. She chairs the Culinary Committee and directs every funeral luncheon and other special events. Each year, she stages a dinner for all of the participants of Covington County’s Drug Court. 

“She has been called upon by many a bride – or perhaps many mothers of brides – to put that same mark of excellence on their weddings,” Johnson said. 

“We are especially appreciative that since her retirement, she has directed the City of Andalusia Ambassadors, and set high standards for them, too,” he said. “She has helped us showcase our best and brightest students and added a little something extra to the special events where they have served as greeters.”

Because her family could not attend the event, Mayor Johnson asked that the ambassadors stand with Mrs. Stroud during the award presentation, which was a surprise to her. Unbeknownst to Mrs. Stroud, her sons and several of her grandchildren were tuned in via Zoom to watch the presentation, and were able to congratulate her from the screen near the podium.

Each Spirit of Andalusia recipient is named a Paul Harris Fellow, the award named for Rotary founder Paul Harris, and the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Rotarian. A contribution to the Rotary International Foundation also is made in the recipient’s name. 

Mayor Earl Johnson and members of the Andalusia City Council took the oaths of office Monday for the new quadrennium. Johnson became Andalusia’s first five-term mayor and Councilman Terry Powell became the city’s first council member to serve five consecutive terms. Councilman Kennith Mount also took the oath for a fifth term, four of which are consecutive. Hazel Griffin is serving a fourth consecutive term and Ralph Wells is serving a third consecutive term. Joe Nix took the oath as a council member for the first time. The mayor pointed out how much the world – and this community – have changed since he first took the oath of office in 2000. “In 2000, Google was new technology. The 9-11 attacks had not led us to a decades-long War on Terror. People smoked in restaurants,” Johnson said. “The Blackberry was the handheld device of the day, and we were seven years away from the first iPhone. Facebook, YouTube and Twitter had not yet been launched. “Here in Andalusia, we had only begun to dream of the innovative ways we would enhance our community,” he said. “We began by improving East Three Notch Street with sidewalks and street lamps; we renovated this historic building in which we are meeting today as the new city hall; and we worked with the community to build a memorial tribute to the veterans who have so honorably served our country. “That quadrennium, we created a model that we’ve used again and again throughout the city - to improve all of our entrances; to find modern uses for our beloved historic buildings; to build infrastructure that enhances the quality of life; and to work with the community to build the community,” the mayor said. Johnson said all that has been accomplished in his 16 years in office is the result of administrations setting goals and working together to achieve them. “As we begin the new quadrennium today, I am proud of the body of work we have behind us, and excited about the work ahead,” the mayor said. “I thank you for the trust you’ve put in me by allowing me to continue to serve as mayor of this beautiful city. I pledge to you that we’re not done. We will continue to work toward goals for the next four years and beyond. “

This week kicks off the holiday season in Andalusia. Here’s what you need to know to enjoy it all!

On Thursday evening, we will light the Christmas tree on the Square at 6 p.m. with live music by Johnny Brewer and two members of the LBW Ensemble, Matthew Mitchell and Jo Snider.

The Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas parade rolls at 7 p.m.

On Friday, we will cut the ribbon for Candyland 2020 at 1 p.m., and invite you to be with us for that exciting occasion. Candyland officially opens at 1:30 Friday afternoon. You can find a detailed schedule of events online at ChristmasinCandyland.com.

The Lower Alabama Arts Coalition will open its Merry Market with an open house from 5 until 8 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 4. All handmade items are $50 or less.

Concerts and Carols at Springdale on Ice. Don’t miss this fun feature of Christmas in Candyland set from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. You can find a detailed schedule of events online at ChristmasinCandyland.com.

First Baptist Church will hold a Drive Through Nativity from 6 until 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. This is the first time they have done this, and they’ve got a zoo of live animals lined up, including cows, horses, donkeys, sheep and a camel. Please enter from Tisdale Street, which runs behind Big Mike’s. 

United Fund will host its fourth annual Red Nose Reindeer Dash 5K at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 5. Online registration is available at active.com, or race day registration begins at 7 p.m. Starts and ends at CCB Community Bank, East Three Notch Street, Andalusia. 

The Andalusia Pilot Club will host its annual All You Can Eat Pancake and Sausage Breakfast in the Kiwanis Center. The event runs from 5:30 a.m. until noon. Admission is $7 per person, and there is also an Arts and Crafts Fair. 

Christmas Spectacular will perform at Candyland at 5 p.m. You can find a detailed schedule of events online at Christmas in Candyland.com.

Those Andalusia Pilot Club members are workers! They also will host their annual Holiday Tour of Homes this Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 each, and are available from members or at the Chamber of Commerce. 
This year’s tour includes the homes of Amy and Chris Weaver, Hayden and Tyler Raines, Philann and Ryan Steward, Amy and Chris Rolling, Melissa Owens, John and Kelly Wells, and Five Runs Farm. 

Walkers or runners inside the city who encounter nuisance animals should call the Andalusia Police Department with a location and description at the time of the encounter, Chief Paul Hudson said.

The advice comes on the heels of complaints by the local running community of being chased by dogs, as well as complaints by residents of Albritton Road of cats being killed or missing.

“If you see a dog running loose, call the APD with a location and description,” Hudson said. “If it is after animal control hours, we will try to locate the animal and find the owner. If it occurs during the day, Monday through Friday, the animal control officer will be dispatched to pick it up.”

Pet owners are required by city ordinance to prevent their animals from roaming, Hudson said.

“We have a city ordinance for nuisance animals and a leash law,” Police Chief Paul Hudson said. “If your dog is caught out of your yard and not on a leash, you can be summonsed for allowing your dogs to run at large.”

That means an appearance in city court, with a possible fine.

“If your animal attacks someone, you can be issued a summons for a vicious animal and be (financially) responsible for quarantining the animal for up to 10 days,” Hudson said. “If your dog isn’t up to date on shots, you can also receive a summons for failure to inoculate your dogs.”

Local residents need to understand that it is their responsibility to keep their pets secure in their yards unless they are out with them on a leash, he said.

If an encounter with a dog is an emergency (someone has been injured), the call should go to 911, he said. If the report is not an emergency, please call the department at 222-1155.