COTTONWOOD: On January 9, 2024 a tornado struck the Town of Cottonwood. The tornado destroyed almost everything in it’s pathway.
The Town of Cottonwood Fire Station and Senior Citizens Building were two structures destroyed.
Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall left his job where he makes his living and took off to Cottonwood. He slept in the mobile command post and stayed around the clock making sure the residents of Cottonwood’s needs were met.
Cottonwood Mayor James Coachman and former Cottonwood Mayor Ken Hamilton and others local and county began making contact with people. FEMA came and gave excuses only.
But ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell, Alabama State Representative Paul Lee, Alabama State Senator Donnie Chesteen, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey were dedicated to helping Cottonwood.
Many volunteers, Dothan Fire Department, ALEA – Troopers, Cottonwood Rescue, Houston County Sheriff Department, Houston County Road and Bridge and others, to many to name all came to the aid of Cottonwood.
With funding secured by ADECA, Rep.Paul Lee and Senator Donnie Chesteen, Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall, past and present Cottonwood Mayors and Council Members, members of Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department, the new station was planned, plans drawn, contracts let and is now in service and ready.
The station was built with the state funding.
There was a pole barn building constructed in the back to hold additional equipment and supplies. The station was constructed with the future in mind and to allow room for growth. A generator was installed to allow the station to operate when power is out. And Chief Randy Hall made sure the station contained hisotry.
On the back of the building some bricks are in place that came from the old station. And in the station you will find equipment displayed from years of yesterday such as ladders, axes, lights and siren.
The citizens of Cottonwood can be proud of every man and woman involved and the work they contrubuted. And thanks to the elected public servants that played a hand in making this a reality.
Chief Hall also made sure there was a place for Houston County Sheriff Deputies, Cottonwood Police or ALEA if they needed to utilize the offices for an investigation they were conducting or a restroom when on active patrol. All future needs they tried to think of.
In closing, the residents of Cottonwood Alabama need to know just how much every man and woman who volunteers for Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department loves every resident, guest and community. They give of their time, energy and money to serve. They also need to know just how much Cottonwood Alabama, the people and guests mean to Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall. He stayed all through the devestation on January 9, 2024. Chief Hall has worked tireless in making sure everything has remained in place and ready to respond to serve the citizens and guests of Cottonwood. Randy Hall is a man who remembers his roots and the foundation provided to him as a child growing up in Cottonwood.
And while he no longer holds a public office but does volunteer with the Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department, former Cottonwood Mayor Ken Hamilton has played a large role in helping Chief Hall make things happen.
Again, thanks to the current Mayor and Town Council, former Mayor and Town Council members, to Paul Lee, Donnie Chesteen, Kenneth Boswell and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.
GOOD BLESS COTTONWOOD. GOD BLESS HOUSTON COUNTY, GOD BLESS THE STATE OF ALABAMA. AND GOD BLESS THESE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
