HOUSTON COUNTY: In September, without any advanced notice from the Houston County Commission to the Houston County Rescue Unit, Chairman Brandon Shoupe and Commissioners D4 James Ivey, D3 Ricky Herring, D2 Tracy Adams and D1 Curtis Harvey cut all of the funding to Houston County Rescue.
Apparently based on what D3 Ricky Herring told the commission and possibly D4 James Ivey told the commission, D2 Commissioner Tracy Adams told residents in Pansey the Houston County Sheriff Department Dive Team would fill the need of Houston County Rescue Unit.
While there is no doubt in my mind, D3 and D4 County Commissioners who are also Captain’s with Houston County Sheriff Department did say that, the commissioners soon found out what most around them already knew. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!
When RSN was contacted about what D2 Commissioner Tracy Adams was telling people, RSN called the one who knows the truth, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza. And the response from Sheriff Donald Valenza, this is the first he had heard about that. Sheriff Valenza said the Sheriff Department does not dive for bodies, are not trained in underwater search for bodies, does not have the equipment to underwater dive for bodies. That is and has been the mission of Houston County Rescue Unit.
Houston County Rescue Unit has been in existence longer than Ricky Herring has been alive. Former in 1963 by Mr. John C. Ingram, more than 25 men and women give of their time, money and energy to provide these services in the wiregrass. Just in September Houston County Rescue Unit was called into action in September, right here in Houston County.
This past Administrative Meeting of Houston County Commission, where D1 Curtis Harvey and D3 Ricky Herring did not attend, D4 Commissioner and Retired Sheriff Captain James Ivey proved how far out of reality he was. He questioned HCRU President Chris Ball about driving the HCRU vehicle and it being seen out of state. Ball answered Ivey’s questions, first Ball put the gas in the vehicle, he kept his dive equipment in the vehicle, ready to respond. Ball has frequently closed his business, where he makes his living, and responded to calls. Sometimes if quick enough the divers might can save someone who has drowned. Unlike D4 James Ivey, Chris Ball has a business he makes a living at and did not draw two government paychecks as Ivey did. Houston County Rescue also travels to Vortex Springs and other places for training exercises. Something that D4 Commissioner James Ivey could not figure out on his own and had to display his stupidity to the public.
Sheriff Donald Valenza, behind the scenes, told the Commissioners if they wanted to fund the Sheriff Department an additional $ 300,000.00 plus they could buy the equipment, and then they would have to pay Sheriff Department divers overtime while training and while on call outs.
This morning, without discussion, Houston County Commission re-instated the $ 20,000.00 funding to Houston County Rescue.
A Dothan businessman, who wanted to remain unknown, pledged a $ 20,000.00 donation if Houston County Commissioners did not do as they should in funding Houston County Rescue.
