Several weeks ago, members of the Andalusia Band Boosters were faced with a difficult decision: cancel the A-Town Invitational, the group’s primary fundraiser, or locate it to another venue due to the ongoing construction at the Andalusia Municipal Stadium. Opp City Schools, The City of Opp, Opp High School and the OHS Black and Gold band graciously came to the table with a generous offer for the contest to be hosted at Channel-Lee Stadium in Opp.

Thanks to the community spirit offered by numerous people in Opp and Andalusia, the Andalusia Band Boosters and AHS Sound Tradition band had a successful event again this year.  Specifically, Michael Smithart (OCS Superintendent) extended use of the stadium and school facilities. OHS Band Director Dillon Worley and OHS volunteers Sherry Bledsoe, Stacey Tyson and Dallas Hudson spent hours assisting our volunteers prior to A-Town and on the day of the event. The Andalusia Police Department, Opp Police Department and Haynes Ambulance provided staffing to ensure the safety of those in attendance at the contest. Crossover Ministries cleaned the stadium following the event.

The logistics of moving an event of this size to an entirely different city involved much more than a new venue. Gold Sponsor PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and Silver Sponsors Andalusia Distributing Company, Andalusia Health, Andalusia Tire Company, Balanced Family Health Care, Bass Agency Real Estate, CCB Community Bank, Chris Jackson Allstate Insurance, Comfort Care Hospice, Darby’s Pharmacy, Dr. Gregory Price & Heide Price DNP, Dr. Tim Day & Ashton Wells, J.M. Jackson Chevrolet Buick, Mallette Drug, O’Neal Agency, Representative Mike Jones, Jr., Rex & Billie Jo Butler, Ron Nall State Farm Insurance, Southeast Gas, Southern Independent Bank, The Citizens Bank and Walker Electric all helped defray additional costs associated with the transition from Andalusia to Opp for this year’s contest.

Dozens of people representing dozens of businesses and organizations worked together to make this year’s A-Town Invitational possible. It was refreshing to see members of our AHS football team serving alongside parents and band students during the contest. The media, specifically the Andalusia Star-News and WAAO, helped promote the event and update the community on the change in location and then provided outstanding coverage on the day of the competition.

Watching our communities rise to the occasion in support of one another is yet another reason I love living in Covington County. On behalf of all of the Andalusia High School Band Boosters and the organization’s officers Shawn Geohagan, Ron Nall, Cara Russell and Michael Barton and the AHS Band and Band Director Bennie Shellhouse, thank you, friends, for making this year’s A-Town (O-Town) Invitational another one for the record books!

Shannon Jackson