HOUSTON COUNTY: 12:17 PM Once upon a time the weather information briefs came from Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management. And that was before the NON-BRILLIANT decisions of the “current” Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe, and County Commissioners D1 Curtis Harvey, D2 Tracy Adams, D3 Ricky Herring and D4 James Ivey.
So Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza has had to step up to the plate. The following is a weather Brief from Sheriff Valenza:
WHAT…Sub-freezing temperatures are expected. A Hard Freeze with temperatures in the low to mid 20s possible across portions of Southeast Alabama and Southwest Georgia. * WHERE…Portions of southeast Alabama, Big Bend and Panhandle Florida, and south central and southwest Georgia. * WHEN…From Monday evening through Tuesday morning. * IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
UPDATED @ 12:57 PM
Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Director Mark Powell said the Sheriff and EMA uses the exact same app. The information comes from National Weather Service and one might get the information a few seconds before the other and push the information out a few seconds to a minute faster. The he is concerned with the information getting pushed out regardless of what app sends it.
And I thank EMA Director Mark Powell for contacting me about it. And my reply was also that I like him but feel he non-responding and not being active in the county is solely at the direction of the Houston County Commission Chairman and members of the Houston County Commission. And that is my problem.
Responding with and being involved with the 17 Volunteer Fire, Houston County Rescue which is a search and rescue primarily on water, and the 5 EMS Services, in my opinion, is a role that EMA should be actively involved in.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE: Years ago then Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah set up a meeting with all Police Chief’s across the county and then Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish and Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza. The discussion item was school violence and or shootings.
A meeting was then set up with Volunteer Fire Chief’s across Houston County and EMS units. Houston County Sheriff Captain Donovan Arias was brought in and discussed the same about schools.
A exercise was set up for a Saturday to run through scenerios.
Then comes Houston County Sheriff Sgt. Ricky Herring as a Houston County Commissioner. He stops Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management and says that is not their role. The exercise failed with very little participation because of Sheriff Sgt./County Commissioner Ricky Herring actions. Only about 5 people showed up at the exercise. There has NEVER BEEN ANOTHER exercise set up. And that is the fault of the Houston County Commission Chairman and members of the Houston County Commission, of which two are Deputy Sheriff’s.
QUESTION: Is that not something that should be exercised or wait until something happens? Not EMA Director Mark Powell’s fault but the County Commissioners!
DOTHAN: The 81st Annual Peanut Festival begins grinding to a close for year 2025. While tonight, November 8, the fair will begin to close the rides will be open for your riding pleasure on Sunday, November 9.
A lot of the local food vendors will be closed on Sunday, but a few will remain open. The rides will be open for those who want to come out and just ride the rides.
The 2025 National Peanut Festival President, Phillip Tidwell, wants to THANK EVERYONE who has attended the 2025 National Peanut Festival. Tidwell also thanks all of the volunteers from all divisions for all of the hard work and the dedication they each have,
NPF President Phillip Tidwell also gave great praises to Dothan Fire Department, Pilcher Ambulance, Dothan Police Department and Houston County Sheriff Department for their great work in helping to provode a safe time for everyone.
This year NPF spent money on new safety features. RSN is not going to disclose those safety features but you would be very impressed with what the NPF Board of Directors did to help make sure NPF was a safe and fun time for all.
MONTGOMERY: The Alabama SSUT Tax lawsuit has been a hot topic in Alabama.There will be hearing on all of the motions on Monday, November 10, 2025 in Montgomery Circuit Court. The hearing is set at 8:00 AM before Circuit Court Judge Tiffany McCord.
But the new Mobile mayor has already stepped into a fight that engaged his predecessor, Mayor Sandy Stimpson: the internet sales tax.
This week, Mobile Mayor Nick Cheriogotis, a Dothan native who took Office of Mayor in Mobile this past week, told reporters he is hopeful for a legislative battle over Alabama’s Simplified Sellers Use Tax, or SSUT, which imposes a flat 8 percent tax on online sales. Mayor Cheriogotis also signaled he may join a lawsuit, first filed in August by the City of Tuscaloosa, challenging the state’s handling of the tax.
“I’m not interested in hurting the money the state is receiving,” Cheriogotis said. “But the truth is our cities will crumble under the lack of funding through SSUT if it’s not addressed.”
This is a battle that Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe has been involved in since it was originally filed. Shoupe takes an opposite position that Tuscaloosa.
Former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, whose administration sparred with the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) over the SSUT program. Stimpson called the tax system, enacted in 2016, the biggest threat to Alabama’s cities, warning that without reform, it could cripple the finances of a large city.
“All the national experts say SSUT is a model law for simplicity that is well within the pathway created by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Wayfair case,” Brasfield said, referring to the 2018 decision that allowed states to tax remote sellers and strengthened local governments’ ability to collect online sales taxes.
He has said that any changes to any portion of the SSUT could threaten the program’s existence, Brasfield said.
Below are court filings which are in the Circuit Court of Montgomery Alabama. We will be monitoring on Monday to see what happens next.
DOTHAN: 6:08 PM Dothan 911 dispatched multiple Dothan Fire Engine Companies, Dothan Police and Pilcher Ambulance to a structure fire located at 722 Parker Street. At the time of dispatch Dothan 911 reported no flames were visible but smoke was visible.
The first fire engine company arriving on the scene reported no flames visible, for all incoming fire engine companies to go to Level 1 staging. Level 1 staging is stand by fire hyrdrants, prepare to connect and lay water lines in to make an offensive attack, but DO NOT lay water lines in until given the word.
The primary fire engine company made entry and quickly determined it was food on the stove. The primary engine company instructed all other fire engine companies to return to service.
DOTHAN: 09:00 AM Houston County Sheriff Deputies have been doing evictions this morning. One of the places Houston County Sheriff Deputies were conducting an eviction was in the 600 block of Chapelwood Drive in Dothan.
Houston County Sheriff Deputies called for additional deputies and backed off the immediate eviction, however had Deputies still in place awaiting back up deputies to arrive on the scene.
Houston County Sheriff Deputies began activating the SWAT Unit.
At 09:33 AM Houston County Sheriff Deputies called for Dothan Fire Department that they felt the barricaded suspect had set the house on fire. Dothan Fire Engine 3 ( Whatley Drive ) and other Dothan Fire units and Pilcher Ambulance responded. Dothan Police also responded.
On arrival of Dothan Fire Engine Company they reported smoke visible followed shortly thereafter flames visible. That was followed by reports two shots were fired and later that shots were fired from the window of the house.
Dothan Fire Department, assisted and protected by law enforcement, were in an attempted offensive position on the fire and a defensive position on the fire.
After a short brief period the person inside the house is reported to have taken his life. Once confirmed by law enforcement and law enforcement declared the scene safe Dothan Fire Department began an offensive attack to get the fire under control.
This was a Houston County Sheriff Department call and Dothan Police Department had not been requested and Dothan Police response was when Dothan Fire was dispatched. Once determined suspect had taken his life and fire department could make entry, the emergency was downgraded. Dothan Police have remained on the scene with Dothan Fire Department but this is a Houston County Sheriff Department call. Dothan Police will remain on the scene with Dothan Fire Department and if requested assist the Sheriff Department.
A lot of people, even some who have run for Sheriff, never realized the responsibilities of a Sheriff in addition to law enforcement. The Sheriff Department serve civil process for courts, conduct evictions, sieze property on judgments from the court. The Sheriff is the keeper of the county jail, which is running 100 over capacity, daily, The Sheriff has to be guardian for those deemed unable to mentally unable to manage their affairs or no family. The Sheriff has to make decisions on end of life on some of those responsible for guardianship.
The Sheriff has more responsibility than just law enforcement.
UPDATED @ 4:50 PM
PRESS RELEASE – HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
On November 7, 2025 The Houston County Sheriff’s Office responded to 607 Chapelwood Drive in effort to serve an eviction. Upon our arrival, contact was made with David Lee Smith at the front door. Immediately upon Mr. Smith observing our deputies, he slammed the door shut and barricaded the front door.
Additional personnel arrived on scene quickly and attempted to call him out. Deputies on scene observed smoke coming from the residence. Dothan Fire was requested and responded accordingly.
In a very short period of time after smoke was observed, our deputies heard a gunshot come from within the residence. Once we were able to gain entry into the residence Mr. Smith was located and determined to be deceased.
Once the scene was considered safe, Dothan Fire began their efforts to extinguish the fire. Investigators with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office responded. As a result of our preliminary investigation, it was evident that once Mr. Smith had barricaded himself inside the residence he started multiple fires throughout the structure. He worked his way to the front of the residence, entered a room that was not on fire, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The body will be sent to the ADFS Medical Examiner’s Office for an Autopsy.
Mr. Smith had recently been divorced and throughout that process was not awarded the house. He continued to stay at the residence even after the Judge’s order.
DOTHAN: 3:38 PM Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Police, Dothan Fire and Pilcher Ambulance to a vehicle verses pedestrian accident. The accident location is 300 East Stough Street.
Reports are the pedestrian is complaining of nack and leg pain.
When law enforcement arrived they reported this was not a vehicle verses pedestrian accdient. Dothan Police changed the call to a medical emergency.
