JACKSON COUNTY FL: Today marks the official day of retirement for Jackson County Sheriff Lt. Eddie Ingram. After 46 years of law enforcement service Lt. Eddie Ingram is hanging up the badge.
Born and raised in Houston County, the son of the late Frankie and Shirley Ingram, a graduate of Ashford Academy, Eddie Ingram first started his law enforcement tenure under Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark in 1978. He later worked under Houston County Sheriff Lamar Hadden and Deputy Coroner under Coroner Rickey Stokes. Eddie Ingram worked under Jackson County Florida Sheriff John McDaniel.
During his 46 years in law enforcement he worked in Villa Rica Georigia, Barbour County Sheriff Department, Quitman County Georgia Sheriff Department, Holmes County Sheriff Department and Summerdale Police Department. Some of these positions were as Deputy Sheriff, Chief Deputy Sheriff and Chief of Police.
In the beginning years Eddie Ingram was a very active member of Houston County Rescue Unit. He grew up with his dad, Frankie Ingram, involved in emergency services and serving as Houston County Coroner. That developed his passion for law enforcement.
On June 18 Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield hosted a retirement celebration for Lt. Eddie Ingram. It was a well attended event with many law enforcement officers that have worked with Lt. Ingram. Some of those included Retired Jackson County Florida Sheriff Lou Roberts, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza and others as well as his wife, Lisa and sister Kellye Epperson.
Sheriff Edenfield described Lt. Ingram as one who always showed up ready to work and served the citizens well. That he was a good leader and kept his vehicle and equipment in great condition.
Ingram was a dedicated law enforcement officer who looked after his fellow officers to make sure they each went home at the end of the watch. He was fair with the citizens and always made sure they were treated fair.
Early on he worked with Jackson County Sheriff Department. So it was great that he ended his circle of service with Jackson County Sheriff Department.
He and his wife reside in Enon, the community between Cowarts – Ashford and Webb.
DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: Last evening during the weather reports are lightning struck the operations of the Dothan – Houston County Communications District building.
With the lightning strike of the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Building it caused the computerized system to go down. This forced all operations back to pen and paper. So during the storm striking and things happening everywhere those in the 911 Center stepped up to the plate and you would have never known they were thrown a curve from the system as they know to pen and paper.
The system in Dothan – Houston County is a screwy system. (1) Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board owns the building and the equipment such as the Computer Aided Dispatch system. (2) The dispatchers work for (a) Dothan Police (b) Houston County Sheriff. None other 911 dispatchers work for the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board.
What was to be a JOINT communications center “ IS NOT” in anyway a “joint” communications center. It is a co-located but not joint. The Dothan – Houston County Communications District is managed by a board of 9 people, they only three people (1) Director (2) lady to input data and address (3) person to look after the building. They have zero management of any 911 dispatchers but own the equipment.
DOTHAN: The 911 dispatchers work for Dothan Police Department under the ultimate command of Dothan Police Chief Will Benny. There is a police captain and a communications center manager. They dispatch all of Dothan Police and Dothan Fire. Dothan Fire Chief sits on the 911 Board but has no command authority over the 911 dispatchers.
HOUSTON COUNTY: The 911 dispatchers work for Houston County Sheriff Department under the ultimate command of Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza. There is a captain in the Sheriff Department and communications center manager. They dispatch all of the Houston County Sheriff Deputies, all municipal police departments in Houston County ( with exception of Dothan Police ) which include Kinsey, Webb, Columbia, Gordon, Cottonwood, Ashford, and Taylor; all 17 Houston County Volunteer Fire Departments, and 5 Houston County EMS.
Both Dothan and Houston County have a ring down to Pilcher Ambulance when they are needed. This needs to be automated because over 200 man hours a year to get Pilcher Ambulance rolling when it could be automated.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Under the Alabama 911 laws Houston County has to pay rent for Emergency Management to be located in the Dothan – Houston County Communications District building. Unless a tornado or hurricane they do not have to be in that building. Houston County has to pay an estimated $ 130,000.00 plus/minus to be in that building. They could move out into an existing building and save at least $ 100,000.00 a year and operate in the building only in a tornado or hurricane. And they have operated remotely in the last storms. The Houston County Commission Chairman and Houston County Commission STOPPED Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management from responding and being proactive calling them a “planning agency” only. Some Mayors across the county have complained but this Houston County Commission Chairman and Commission are deaf and do not care. Not being critical of Mark Powell, but the county people do not know him and Emergency Management has become a useless agency, because that is the desire of the Houston County Commission Chairman and Houston County Commission – especially D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring. They need to move out and save $ 100,000.00 plus a year. So when commissioners say they are managing tax dollars, CALL THEM OUT… WASTING TAX DOLLARS!!!! Challenge me on it guys !!!
There is a wall ( when I was on the board I voted against ) between the Dothan 911 dispatchers and Houston County 911 dispatchers. As Ronald Regan said, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!
The 911 center should be combined,, under one management. Because communications is the one single vital component that keeps the entire system operating and successful. But TURF prevents that from happening.
HATS OFF the the boots in the 911 center, you did a FANTASTIC JOB. Thrown a curve ball but the emergency system kept on ticking without delays.
NOTE: I served on the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board, helped change the legislation, was on the board when the building was constructed, and former Chairman of the Board. When my term expired, not getting along with some Houston County Commissioners, especially D3 Ricky Herring, I rotated off and was not re-appointed. Which was fine with me because I could tell as it is.
DOTHAN: Someone sent me video of a lightning strike reported to have cause the fire in the 100 block of Woodleigh Road in Dothan, Look at about 35 seconds into the video.
At 9:11 PM Dothan Fire Department is actively fighting in an offensive mode the fire.
DOTHAN: 8:39 PM. Dothan 911 dispatched a structure fire in the 100 block of Woodleigh Road.
On arrival of Dothan Police Patrol they reported a working structure fire, smoke and flames visible. Dothan Police SERGEANT Blake McAllister reported he has evacuated the residence next door.
Multiple Dothan Fire Engines are on the scene. One connecting to a fire hydrant. Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams is in service and responding.
Anyone with scene pictures TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729.
8:44 PM Dothan 911 dispatched a motor vehicle accident with injuries at 2390 Ross Clark Circle. The wreck appears to be a single vehicle accident, a semi verses ditch.
Dothan Fire Engine Companies, Pilcher Ambulance, Dothan Police and Pilcher Ambulance responded. All while working fire in Chapelwood.
UPDATED @ 8:54 PM
Dothan Fire is actively fighting an offensive attack on the Woodleigh Road fire. Have fire in the overhead.
Dale County law enforcement and EMS working a motor vehicle accident on Dale County Road 10. There is Entrapment and roadway closed completely.
Cowarts Volunteer Fire and Ashford Volunteer Fire are fires. One on Eddins Road and South Broad Street.
Webb Volunteer Fire and Columbia Volunteer Fire are working trees down.
UPDATED @ 9:16 PM
Dothan Fire Engine 10 ( West Main Street ) and Pilcher Ambulance are transporting the home owner to Flowers Hospital, non emergency.
The National Weather Service has issued SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH in effect until 3 AM CST on Thursday for Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston County.
WIREGRASS: 7:07 PM. The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Houston, Dale and Geneva Counties in the Wiregrass. Please be alert and safe. Warning issued until 8:30 PM.
In Geneva County, on Highway 85 in the Bellwood Community, Belllwood Volunteer Fire and Hartford Rescue are on a tree and power line down and motor vehicle accident.
An additional Geneva County call in the area of Black. A motor vehicle accident. Because Hartford Rescue was in Bellwood the call was rolled to Geneva Rescue.
Malvern Volunteer Fire Department ( 7:00 PM ) dispatched to South County Road 49 and College Avenue to a tree down.
At 7:01 in Geneva County trees down on Geneva County Road 41 and County 45.
At 6:28 PM Southern Junction Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a tree down at 181 Martin Road.
6:30 PM Wicksburg Fire- Rescue was dispatched to West U.S. Highway 84 and State Highway 92. A tree across the roadway blocking the entire road. Because it was a state highway ALDOT ( Alabama Department of Transportation ) was dispatched to remove the tree. Wicksburg Fire – Rescue ( Volunteers ) standing by protecting the motoring public ( which is not their job ).
VOLUNTEERS are criticized by those who are paid to do this work or by county commissioners but the VOLUNTEERS give of their time and resources to protect the public.
I laugh at some law enforcement who are critical because a VOLUNTEER fire or rescue has a red light on their vehicle. Well, they are protecting the public. This is a true story, I was at Main and Oates one morning and there was a wreck with injuries in Cowarts on Highway 84 and Forrester Road. I went and took scene pictures, posted the article, went to Eastside Waffle House and ate breakfast. As I was leaving between Bojangles and Hardee’s the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction came by with lights and siren. Well, the injured had long been gone to the hospital. What was his emergency? To get a VIN and tag number.
Yet law enforcement has chewed out a volunteer fireman turning on his red light going to a structure fire. Which is more important, the fire or getting a tag number and VIN? Just sayin!!! The VOLUNTEERS work to save lives and property and just because they do not do it on a full time basis, THANK THEM!!!
Bot trying to be critical of law enforcement, but I am being critical of commissioners who complain and have no idea what all they do… and the costs associated.
Tonight Dothan School Superintendent Dr. Dennis Coe left a letter being critical of Dothan School Board Chairman Scott Childers.
Let me begin by saying that I like Dr. Dennis Coe and I like Dothan School Board Chairman Scott Childers.
Coe called Childers a bully and stated that he “created ongoing issues and misbehaving”.Coe went on to claim Childers “created a hostile environment and lacked professionalism”.Coe urged voters to”to select school board members dedicated to public education who don’t have personal, political, or racial agendas when they go to the polls to vote in August”.
Coe has retired effective June 30th.
WELL … I am going to disagree with Dr. Dennis Coe. Scott Childers retired from the Dothan City Schools as a Principal. We have a mutual friend who is a very successful businessman who said he learned more under Scott Childers than any other teacher he had in the 12 years of the Dothan School system. Scott Childers, in addition to his teaching career, is a very successful businessman in Dothan himself.
While I respect Dr. Coe, as an elected public servant, which Scott Childers is, as Superintendent you are not superior. You are employed by the school system, but as Chairman of the Board you are employed by the majority of qualified voters who pay for the system. As Chairman, I would demand to be informed and never blindsided. And when I was, there would not be any second chance for those employed who did not keep me informed.
Just with the job description of the School Superintendent; who drafted the job description and who placed it on the agenda of the School Board? Because either you, Dr. Coe and every member of the Dothan School Board denied having a part in the job description at an open meeting. Someone lied. And it passed in the usual 4 to 3 vote that the job announcement required a doctorate.
The Chairman of the Board and the Superintendent, in concert with each other, is to set the board agenda.
The problem with government, and I hear it at the City of Dothan, those employed think they run the entire show and how dare the elected public servants as them a question. It is the elected public servants who are answerable to the voters. Those employed have contracts with huge buy outs and educators have all types of protection so nothing can be done with them. If I am elected and responsible to the people, I AM GOING TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON or all hell will break out and we will be in full war.
And it appears that has been going on in the Dothan City Schools. So therefore it will make a hostile work enviornment. Because as someone elected there is no protection and under contract the person gets a hefty payout.
The so called censure from the State. The public might be fooled but isn’t it amazing that D3 School Board Member Melanie Hill had the letter and knowledge of it before Chairman Scoot Childers? While I supported you being appointed, let’s not forget you worked for the State of Alabama Department of Education before returning to Dothan. You were the “elected” School Superintendent in Henry County before going to Montgomery and then Dothan. So all types of connections in Montgomery. And top level educators take care of top level educators.
I call your hand on that letter and Melanie Hill having it and reading in the board meeting while Childers did not even have it. I AM NOT STUPID.
There is a 4 to 3 vote in every meeting. And while I have known Melanie Hill for many years, she felt she is not answerable to the voters. I personally experienced her rude and obnoxious behavior at a school board meeting. She felt she was above being answerable to the people who elected her as a public servant.
Dr. Coe, you have retired and time to go fishing. You will receive a pension from the Educators Retirement the rest of your life. Go fishing. But calling Childers a bully when he was not kept informed and things behind his back. I would not have tolerated that at all. As a person directly responsible to the voters you would be calling me much worse.
TO THOSE EMPLOYED IN GOVERNMENT, the people elected are responsible to the voters. And if I was one of them, I would ask questions and demand honest answers.
The School System is one that educators have created that only functions for educators. The school system needs business people and not educators running the ship. The number two person could be a good educator. It is a big business. And just because you can teach a subject does not mean you can run and manage a huge business.
In closing, it is time for those employed to understand who is responsible to the ones paying the bills, the voters!!!
