The Brundidge City Council voted Tuesday night to allow Ricky Johnson to open a game room in the former Junior Foods building on South Main Street. The building is located in the city’s District 2.

Britt Thomas said Johnson has a license to operate a business at that location so the council was only asked to permit the business to include a game room.

Johnson said the business will be family-friendly, and if there are problems, “You won’t have to tell me to close it down; I will close it down.”

“This will be a place for all ages to come and enjoy playing a game of pool,” Johnson said. “Dads can bring their kids. There will be no alcohol use, no standing around outside and no boom boxes. The hours will be somewhere around 4 until 9 p.m.”

Johnson said the game room will fill a void in Brundidge.

“It will be a place where kids can go, play games and enjoy being together in a safe place,” Johnson said. “We need places like that; places where families can come, where teenagers and young kids can enjoy a game of pool or ping-pong. This will be a place where people of all ages can come, play a game of pool and not be around alcohol.”

Arthur Lee Griffin, council member District 2, said he has known Johnson for a long time and is confident that he will run a business that will be beneficial to the city.

The council voted unanimously in favor of allowing pool tables at Johnson’s place of business.

Boyd thanked Johnson for investing in the future of Brundidge and wished him the best with his venture.

Theresa Trawick, director of the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library, gave the council a report on the year 2019 at “Tupper.”

“We had a very busy and successful year,” Trawick said. “During the year, we had 12,863 people visit the library and 17,804 web visits.”

The library’s circulation and interlibrary loan was gauged at 9,846 and is going down as it is nationwide, Trawick said.

“That’s sad because the more people read, the more tolerate we become,” she said. “Reading is important to everyone, no matter the age.”

The library hosts Brown Bag lunch events on the third Thursday of each month. This month, Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport will speak on residential safety. Everyone is invited.

On March 16, Trawick said the library will present Dr. Wayne Flynt, a professor in the Department of History at Auburn University, in an Alabama Bicentennial program.

Dr. Flynt has written 13 books that focus largely on the historical, economic and social fabric of Alabama, Trawick said.

Jane Ward and Sirran Wilkes, from Sav-A-Life, presented an overview of Sav-A-Life which has been in operation for 32 years.

Ward said between 15 and 20 percent of those served are from the Brundidge area.

“We share the love of Jesus Christ with those who seek our services,” said Ward, executive director. “We have an excellent staff to serve our clients at their most vulnerable times.”

Ward said Sav-A-Life continues to explore ways to assist women in crisis situations and to minister to them.

During 2018, Sav-A-Life in Troy conducted 420 pregnancy tests and was witness to 16 clients who rededicated their lives. During the year, 378 family enrichment programs were held.

Wilkes said Sav-A-Life is a place of encouragement and hope and provides a much-needed service to the Pike County area.

Ward and Wilkes asked the Brundidge City Council for its continuing support throughout 2019.

Boyd reported that the Black History program held at the Cultural Arts Building at Pike County High School was outstanding and congratulated the students and teachers on a job well done.

“The water tank at the Walmart DC is being painted and is looking much better,” she said. We are proud the work is near completion.”

The Brundidge City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Brundidge City Hall. The meetings are open to the public.