COWARTS: On Monday, August 11, 2025, the Cowarts City Council meeting was held.
On August 26, 2025 Incumbent Mayor Randy Rowland and Current Councilman Greg Odom are seeking election against each other. The election is heated between Rowland and Odom.
A – Advantage Bonding Bail Enforcement Officer Devonte Thompson went and video covered the meeting for me. RSN covered 5:30 PM – Dothan School Board, 5:30 PM Graceville City Council: 6:00 PM Cowarts Town Council: 6:00 PM Midland City Meet The Candidate’s Forum. These have taken some time to get video and audio loaded. But hey, with help of Dale, Jordan and Devonte along with Chelsea today, RSN was there.
Not listended to the meeting. RSN does know it was heated somewhat and after about 2 minutes Cowarts Mayor Randy Rowlandgaveled the meeting ADJOURNED.
MIDLAND CITY: On Monday there was a Midland City Meet The Candidate’s Forum held at Midland City Elementary School.
The event was organized by Pamela Brooks-Thomas, a Midland City resident. Most all of the candidates were present. A few were unable to attend due to work. The forum began at 6 PM.
Ms. Thomas-Brooks asked Rickey Stokes to be the moderator for the meeting. And Rickey Stokes appreciates the invitation.
Each candidate was given 3 minutes to introduce themselves to those in attendance. At one point there was discussion of taking questions but later decided not to accept questions from the audience.
The vent was well attended. A good field of incumbents and opponents for the registered voters of Midland City to select from on August 26.
GRACEVILLE FL: Tonight the City Council in Graceville Florida met. They would not let citizens speak before the vote. But they voted to cut the Graceville Police Department down to 5 officers, elimanting 2 officers, and only give a 3% raise.
This fight to elimate the police department has been led Terry Nichols, a Dentist in Graceville Florida. Nichols lost an election as a School Board. The Mayor of Graceville, Aurthur Obar, retired quietly before the election. Terry Nichols quietly qualified for election and no challengers. Everyone assumed Obar was going to seek re-election as he had for the past 20 years.
So Terry Nichols was automatically elected.
Terry Nichols is a practicing dentist in Graceville and owns a cattle business in Graceville. So if you support having a police department in Graceville, you might want to get the doctor’s attention.
DOTHAN: 8:51 PM The Dothan School Board met in a special called meeting this evening at 5:30 PM. The meeting was not called through proper procedures of the Chairman of the Board in calling the meeting. The meeting was called by Board Member Brenda Guilford.
The agenda called for the approval of the contract for the new Superientendent of the Dothan City Schools.
School Board Member Amy Bonds informed the board she was unable to attend, but Brenda Guilford called the meeting anyway.
After discussion and questions to the Chelsea Alabama attorney alleged to have been hired by four board members, four of the board members, Brett Strickland, Melanie Hill, Franklin Jones and Brenda Guilford voted to ink the contract drafted by an attorney that RSN says was not legally hired to negotiate the employment agreement.
Board Members Brett Strickland and Melanie Hill will not be on the board after October 5, 2025. Amy Bonds, who was not present, will not be on the board after October 5. There will be a new Chairman of the Board after October 5, 2025. So there will be four new members on the Dothan School Board.
The four, Strickland, Hill, Jones and Guilford inked the contract that is close to $ 300,000.00 per year and runs through year 2030. That is one year after the next election.
The Chelsea Alabama attorney told the board, as I was told, it was ok for them to vote on the contract tonight. I have not listened to the recording at this time.
DOTHAN: 10:00 AM This morning Dothan City Clerk Wendy Shiver, with Dothan Police Chief Will Benny beside her, opened the provisional ballot boxes.
Alabama Law dictates the ballot goes into a sealed envelope, and that is placed in a sealed envelope, and a form accompanies in a sealed envelope. When the provisional ballots are opened each step has to be followed.
The Houston County Board of Registrars, not the City Clerk, decides which votes are to be counted. No race outcome was changed after the votes were opened. In D1 race Kevin Dorsey increased in votes but still not eneough to change the outcome. The School Board Chair, Julie Mullins-Turner and Wes Grant each tied 6 provisional votes so that is left unchanged.
Mrs. Shiver has attempted to contact the Alabama Secretary of State Office since Friday. This morning she arrived at work at 7 AM and has attempted to contact the Alabama Secretary of State without success. In District 2, Wiregrass Rec Center, the affaidavit envelope is empty. Ms. Shiver believes the affaidavit that is to be submitted to the Houston County Registrarer is in the envelope with the ballot. But by law Mrs. Shiver can not open the ballot because the affaidavit has to be sent to the Houston County Registrar first for approval.
In District 2 there are 19 provisional ballots, Depending on the vote count that could change the outcome of the District 2 race.
The City of Dothan legal department has examined this issue and guidance from the Alabama Secretary of State Office. But I guess he is to busy running for office to handle his office in this important issue.
