ALBANY GEORGIA: 10:21 PM. Not sure if 10:21 PM or 9:21 PM because I am in Albany Georgia.
As some know, in addition to the News Business/Blog or whatever you call rickeystokesnews, I am also in the bail bonding business. We bond in Houston County, Henry County, Dale County, Coffee County and Geneva County. But we have contacts in other states such as Georgia and Florida to get people bond.
So tonight I am actually standing in the parking lot of Dougherty County Jail in Albany Georgia. A Dothan resident was stopped and his driver license was suspended. He said he was not aware but it was an arresting offense. So he is in the Doughtry County Jail. Bonds totaled $ 1,500.00 dollars.
So remember, I DOSE BUT DO NOT CLOSE and have briefcase and will travel.
Standing in the parking lot with airpad on hood of vehicle. Researching some and catching up on some work while waiting. Albany Georgia sits in the Flint River. Albany is the county seat of Doughtry County and the sole incorporated city in Doughtry County. The entire county is reported to have a population of 85,790.
Was told, UNCONFIRMED, there is a murder every day in this county. In 2023 Albany had 67.9K people, median age of 35.1. And a median household income of $ 45,201. The highest employer in Albany is healthcare and social assistance.
The jail is about the size of Dothan High School. A large facility.
Just some trivia but as you can see, Rickey Stokes does work. And coming to Albany Georgia was not on my list of things to do, until about 5:30 PM. But when someone is in need, Rickey Stokes responds.
UPDATE 8:12pm. The gas truck has been loaded for safe transport, and the scene where the accident occurred has been cleared. Residents can now safely return home. Thank you for your cooperation and thank you to the First Responders.
GENEVA: 5:00 PM. There has been a single vehicle accident on Geneva County Road 4.
Geneva Police Chief Pepper Mock is asking everyone to evacuate if you live County Road 4, west of County Road 6 to Highway 52. This is a TEMPORARY evacuation.
The overturned vehicle is a propane tank. There is a small leak but when they turn the truck back on the wheels the leak is going to be heavier. This voluntary evacuation is for your safety and is only temporary.
Geneva Fire, Geneva Rescue, Black Volunteer Fire, Coffee Springs Volunteer Fire, Dothan Fire Haz Mat, Geneva Police and Geneva County Sheriff Department are on the scene.
DOTHAN: Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams has announced his retirement to the men and women in Dothan Fire Department.
For 40 years Larry Williams has been in emergency services. Beginning with Pilcher Ambulance Service, Eufaula Fire Department, Ozark Fire Department and then Dothan Fire Department.
Chief Larry Williams served almost 38 years with Dothan Fire Department and rose through the ranks. When Dothan Fire Department has three rescue trucks, Eastside, Central and Westgate, he rode as a paramedic on the rescue truck.
Chief Larry Williams has served the past 19 years years as Dothan Fire Chief. As Chief and through team work of the more than 200 men and women in the Dothan Fire Departent, he has lead Dothan to a Fire ISO rating of Number 1. A great savings on insurance for property owners.
Under Chief Williams leadership a new fire station was constructed on West Main Street and Whatley Drive. Dothan Fire Department has an average response time of 5 minutes or less. Which is tremendous. The Lakewood Fire Station, from memory, I think came under Chief Williams leadership. Dothan Fire was designated and managed equipment for heavy rescue and haz mat trucks which served this region of Alabama.
THANK YOU for your dedication to saving lives and property.
DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: Recently The Houston County School Board met at Wicksburg School to cut the ribbon for the new Gymnasium.
A dream of the late Mr. Gary Cox, a long time member of the Houston County Board of Education. After the ribbon cutting by Mrs. Cox and family, it was announced that Wicksburg would soon be getting a new two story High School.
Houston County School Superintendent Brandy White congratulated CFO Bedsole. White described there is a lot of red tape in the school system. Ms. Bedsole started figuring how the school board could do things. This resulted in the new gym at Wicksburg, a new two story High School building to be constructed, a new gym at Ashford High School and other things going on and to be done.
Houston County School Superintendent Brandy White spoke about the Houston County School Board. White said they have what he considers the best board around. ” These Board Members truly have the best interest of the students, the faculty, the community taxpayers in mind. They do great work and White truly appreciates their trusting me”. ” A board means a lot in the way things run smoothly”.
When Brandy White came on board, Mr. Gary Cox told him “don’t ever give us any surprises” and other things.
The video is about 3:30 minutes. Please watch it. And the success of the Houston County School System is growing and has great leadership. Yes, there are issues, but they – the Superintendent and School Board Members are adults, do not hide from the public, and work together as a team with the intrest of the students, the faculty, and the community taxpayers in mind.
The Dothan City Schools is just the opposite. They have agendas and conflict. Do not have the interest of the students, the faculty and the community taxpayer in mind.
I, Rickey Stokes, tried. As of this writing the Judge has not ruled in the injunction. The attorney, Steve McGowan tried to straighten my filings out. I learned a lot, with the main thing being the Alabama Legislature wrote the Alabama Open Meetings law to assist the boards in hiding the truth from the public, the boards being able to be decietful, being able to con the public. And the Dothan City Schools is an embarrassment to the public, resulting in the children’s education suffering. And that is a shame.
Again, we do not know the Judge’s ruling. It is not in Rickey Stokes DNA to give up. But I only have so many hours of life left and will not waste it on my time being spent at the Dothan City Schools.
DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: After a long absence of attending Dothan School Board Meetings, and after calls from multiple people about the Dothan School Board, Rickey Stokes started attending, reluctantly.
Regardless of what people think of me, I LOVE Dothan and Houston County and my passion is emergency services, law enforcement – fire – EMS. The meetings and political are not my primary interest.
After attending, what I saw was the same chaos from 18 to 20 years ago. A constant 4 to 3 vote, nothing in the interest of the students or education. Then I saw hiding from the public, deceptive actions, and just conduct that was not acceptable.
As I dug in, started looking around, and what I saw, is the reason for filing the Violation of the Open Meetings Law. And it has been funny all of the rhetoric from people, from some that I thought were friends, when I explained the reasons, In some of their posts on social media they have called me a liar. And that surprised me from people such as Anita Dawkins. But as I have always told the people around me, the day I think the people like me for them to slug me up side the head.
SOME THINGS I LEARNED
I have always liked Dennis Coe. Known him since he was the elected Henry County School Superintendent. Grew up knowing Melanie Boyd Hill through Southside Baptist Church. Went to church with Scott Childers at Memphis Baptist Church.
The board members, the four – Strickland, Hill, Jones and Guilford along with Coe had a private text message conversation group. They included Aurie Jenkins until they decided she did not support their agenda. Emails sent to the board members would self destruct in 24 or 48 hours. The four group intentionally hide things from the public and other board members. When some board members would ask questions from the CFO and others they found their conversations being secretly recorded.
Nothing in the interest of the children.
The qualifications for the next superintendent, no one on the board admitted to drafting the document. So where did the qualifications come from?
As media/blogger or whatever you want to refer to me as, one of my duties is to report to you. The sound is purposely awful, Dothan City Schools makes video recordings of the meetings but they are not visible to the public. The recordings media make, the sound is awful so it is hard to hear when recorded. My feelings, purposely done. Nothing transparent.
COURT.
The initial filing was typed by me, Rickey Stokes. It was a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Law. I contacted Steve McGowan of the McGown Law Firm and he, Brittany and staff jumped in and took over. They had to clean up some of my filings. And they did a great job.
We were assigned 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Todd Derrick. The four board members, Strickland, Hill, Jones and Guilford hired Mr. Boardman from Chelsea Alabama. Mrs. Jenkins, Childers and Mrs. Bonds hired Ben Irwin.
The day of court, Amy Bonds had to be out of town but Scott Childers and Aurie Jenkins were the only two board members who bothered to appear. The group of 4 did not show.
The Alabama Legislature, when they crafted the Alabama Open Meetings Law, on purpose, developed the law to assist government bodies in closing meetings and hiding from the public. You only have 21 days from the meeting to file, You must bear your own filing fees and attorney fees. But the government bodies can let the system pay for their legal representation. The maximum fine is $ 1,000.00 or a months salary. The government entity is not required to pay the person filing attorney fees.
When it was brought up about hiring the attorney to negotiate the contract and it was not on the agenda. Robert’s Rules of Order dictates the meeting and it has to be objected to immediately. So that could not be heard, even thought not on the agenda.
Because some items were outside the 21 days from occurrence, my side was unable to present testimony on these issues.
As of this writing Judge Derrick has not issued a ruling. However, I, Rickey Stokes, is not optimistic. However, I really think that I have been able to bring to the sunshine of the public really what has been going on.
If the court rules against me, as I expect, the ruling will not say the board did or did not violate the Alabama Open Meetings Law. And the Alabama Legislature intentionally wrote it to allow deceptive ers.
Judge Derrick did an outstanding job in researching the law and issue. And nothing bad to say.
My attorneys, Steve McGowan and his staff did an outstanding job. Mr. Boardman and Mr. Irwin did great jobs.
For the record, I am not sad or disappointed. Because regardless, I brought issues to the table that needs to be addressed. There is a run off election and important to help get the purpose of Dothan City Schools on track.
Mr. Mike Schmitz tried, However during his tenure he was faced with COVID and heart surgery. If anyone could have got Dothan City Schools on the right track. I think Mike Schmitz could have. And people who were friends of his treated him like dog manure.
Scott Childers has done a good job but ran into the 4 to 3 vote, blocking him on every turn.
I wish the new Superintendent well.
Monday there will be a meeting showcasing what great things can be done when you have school leadership with their eye on the ball – what is best for the students to provide them with an education.
