HOUSTON COUNTY: MESSAGE FROM HOUSTON COUNTY REVENUE COMMISSIONER GREG HOLLAND
As the Christmas holiday season approaches, we would like to share some important information with the residents of Houston County.
Please be advised that December 31, 2025, is the final deadline for submitting your Special Homestead Exemption Applications. Property taxes are also due by this date to avoid the imposition of penalties and fees. If you choose to submit your payment or application via mail, it must be postmarked by December 31, 2025.
The Houston County Revenue Commissioner’s Office will be closed on Wednesday, December 24, and Thursday, December 25, 2025, in observance of the Christmas holiday.
EUFAULA: 6:45 PM TUESDAY – Eufaula Police are investigating a firearm assault at the Bluff Park Apartment Complex in Eufaula. UNCONFIRMED with law enforcement but via TEXT RICKEY, three persons shot, two air lifted to trauma centers.
ASHFORD: 06:45 AM Houston County 911 dispatched a motor vehicle accident, school bus verses a passenger car. The location is Rocky Creek Road and Highway 84 East.
There are injuries, complaints of shoulder pain.
Ashford Police, Ashford Rescue, Ashford Fire and Houston County Sheriff Deputies on the scene.
Ashford Police Chief Melvin Anderson reports NO CHILDREN ON THE BUS. Again, NO CHILDREN ON THE BUS.
UPDATED @ 07:13 AM
Ashford Rescue transported two patients, non emergency, to Southeast Health.
MIDLAND CITY: JoAnn Grimsley was Mayor of Midland City. Four years ago she was unseated. During the four year interim Ms. Grimsley worked for the Town of Gordon. And during that time former Dothan Police Captain Keith Gray served as Police Chief for Gordon.
This past municipal election JoAnn Grimsley was elected Mayor of Midland City and recently took office. Serving as Police Chief was Willie Powell. Chief Powell has continued to serve as Police Chief.
Tonight, the week before Christmas, the season of giving, Mayor Grimsley and the majority of the Midland City Council gave the YOU ARE FIRED gift to Midland City Police Chief Willie Powell. The Mayor and Council hired Keith Gray as Police Chief.
When the new Mayor and Council took over in Gordon Keith Gray was re-appointed as Police Chief. Gray served full time with one part time police officer.
So, the week before Christmas when all was asleep, no creature was stirring – except for Mayor JoAnn Grimsley – so with Christmas Cheer – the week before Christmas – for no real reason other than she wanted Keith Gray, Mayor Grimsley took the stocking of Police Chief Wille Powell and said here is your Christmas present – FIRED!
Chief Powell has kept drama down in Midland City. He has answered the calls and things have seemed to operate smooth. And Chief Gray, in Gordon, seems to have done a good job.
Chief Willie Powell, sorry… 37% of police chief’s get fired when new Mayors and Council members take office. There is no concern for how they have served or risk their life. It is just a power jab, which is not fair to those who place their life on the line to serve and protect. CONGRATULATIONS to Mayor Grimsley for shafting Chief Powell.
TAYLOR: 6:00 PM Taylor Mayor Robert Lamb and members of the Taylor City Council held their regular scheduled meeting. The meeting went rather fast.
The Mayor and Council gave a one time cost of living bonus of $ 250 for part time and $ 500 for full time employees. Mayor Lamb said the Water Department, on Fridays after lunch everything dies down and asked about the staff closing at noon. Councilman Thompson and Milner expressed feelings against closing but suggested a rotating schedule on cutting down on the staff. History reflects about 37 transactions the entire day. The decision is to rotate staff on Friday afternoons.
Following the meeting Councilman Milner asked for an Executive Session to discuss pending legal matters. The council said there would be no action taken following the Executive Session.
The pending legal matter is the termination of Taylor Police Chief James Brazier by Mayor Robert Lamb. The termination took place 45 minutes after the oath of office was given to Robert Lamb as Mayor. When Lamb terminated Chief Brazier he had Prosecutor Gary Maxwell and Taylor Magistrate Ann Baxter were in the room with Lamb when he terminated Chief Brazier.
Former Taylor Police Officer Tim Miller was at the swearing in and did not leave until 10:45 AM the day of the swearing in and termination of Chief Brazier. Miller is reported to have made statements he went to watch Chief Brazier be terminated.
The council opened a envelope when they came in and sit down. According to information the City Clerk, who just resigned, wrote all of the council members a letter or it was a letter from Chief Brazier. There was no mention of the letter, however, RSN knows they opened the letter. The City Clerk was working for the transition but got fed up with things left.
Also Chief James Brazier employed Attorney Jim Parkman who wrote the City of Taylor a letter about the termination of Brazier. Attorney Stephen Etheredge responded to Attorney Jim Parkman. There has been no public discussion. The City Council has never voted to terminate Chief James Brazier and they have never named a Interim Police Chief. And by law the Mayor has to have the Town Council approval. There has been no official termination of Chief Brazier so all of this time since the Mayor’s actions might cost the City of Taylor aa lot of back pay plus,
A barricaded suspect incident near the intersection of East Clendinen Street and Columbia Road was safely resolved, according to Sheriff Eric Blankenship.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, along with the Abbeville Police Department, responded to the scene. Authorities confirmed the situation was contained to a single residence.
As a precaution due to the close proximity, Abbeville Elementary School was placed on lockdown. Officials emphasized there was no threat to students or staff during the incident.
Update: Authorities have confirmed the suspect is now in custody. All schools have been taken off lockdown, and no injuries were reported.
Officials say additional information will be released if necessary.
UPDATED @ 12:58 PM
Abbeville Police went to arrest a subject on 11 warrants and in addition he had SORNA violation. ( SORNA – Sex Offender Registration and Notification ). The subject ran inside the house. Multiple law enforcement officers surrounded the house. The SRT unit was dispatched. In the meantime Dothan Police was mutual aid for an apprehension dog. Rather than gassing the house law enforcement placed the apprehension K-9 in the attic. Well – the dog got his bite! And the suspect realized, OOPS!!!! it would have been less painful to give up that this K-9 apprehended.
