If there has ever been a time when everyone needed to pray, JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL, now is the time in the August 5th Dothan Municipal elections and August 26, 2025 municipal elections all around the wiregrass.
DOTHAN MAYOR AND ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONERS – the Mayor and Associate Commissioners of the City of Dothan are over the municipal government for the City of Dothan. While they provide “some” funding and “some” services to the Dothan City Schools, PLEASE UNDERSTAND they have zero power over the Dothan School Board. The Dothan Mayor and Associate Commissioners can not tell the Dothan School Board what to do. They are distinctively different organizations. While some might disagree with some of the decisions, the City of Dothan Municipal government is flowing smooth.
With all of the drama in the Dothan City Schools, as Tuesday approaches, RSN wanted to make sure everyone is clear the Dothan Mayor and Associate Commissioners are in no way a part of the Dothan City School Board or leadership of the Dothan City Schools.
D2 Associate Commissioner ( Aristotle Kirkland ) and D4 Associate Commissioner ( John Ferguson ) are not seeking re-election. So no incumbent in those seats. D1 Incumbent Kevin Dorsey and D3 Incumbent Bradley Bedwell and Mayor Incumbent Mark Saliba are all facing re-election opposition. These three have been doing a great job in their seats and with all Dothan has going their re-election is important. Tomorrow we will discuss D4 Commission Seat and the candidates.
D2 recomendation is Phillip Kirksey.
Tomorrow we will also feature the Dothan School Board races.
This election cycle, from opposition, has been one of the worst election cycle I can remember in all of the wiregrass. The challengers in the Dothan Mayor and the challengers in the Associate Commissioners D3 races have had no clue. And not re-electing the incumbents in D1, D3 and Mayor would be bad for the City of Dothan.
The Dothan School Board is worst that I have ever seen it. Over a decade ago, perhaps 15 years ago, I made the statement that I had rather have a hemmrhoid examination then attend a Dothan School Board meeting. Well, that was true until I had hemmrhoids. Had rather suffer the pain of a Dothan School Board meeting.
Recently I started attending the Dothan School Board meetings and the 4 to 3 vote, lack of transparency from the 4 side, is the worst I have ever seen. And that is what caused my to file the injunctions.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I know nothing about the person selected to be the Superintendent. The injunctions filed is not about the individual person selected to be the Dothan City School Superintendent. I have never checked him out, never googled him, only know he is from Athens Georgia and has never been a Superintendent but has been Assistant Superintendent. My feelings are, you can never be until you are. Which means, you can not have Superintendent experience until given an opportunity to be a Superintendent. So that is not a major issue with me.
The issue is the manner this board has been operating on a block 4 to 3 vote and the lack of transparency on the 4 to 3 vote. The contract this board is determined to give the new Superintendent in 5 years at almost $ 300,000.00 per year. This board, when 4 positions will change in October ( elected Tuesday August 5th ), should not enter into a contract.
The Dothan School Board has paid out the contracts on three ( 3 ) Superintendents. And not knowing the success of the Superintendent selected this Board should not obligate the Dothan City Schools to a five ( 5 ) year contract in that amount. If they will agree to a three ( 3 ) year contract with a reasonable amount, like that of Dothan City Manager, I will shut up, and let the new board ink the contract.
It is not about “who” they selected. It is not about the race of the person selected because race does not matter to me. It is about the manner this board has done things ( four of them ) and how they do not feel accountable to the public.
Tomorrow D4 recomendations and Dothan School Board recomendations.
But PLEASE DO NOT HOLD DOTHAN MAYOR AND ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONERS RESPONSBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE DOTHAN SCHOOL BOARD.
DOTHAN: 9:33 PM. Dothan Police, Dothan Fire, Houston County Sheriff Deputies, ALEA – Troopers, WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Unit ) are searching for a missing child.
The search has been underway on Hidden Sunset Drive off Blackman Road. The search started around 9 PM.
The child, 3 years old, has been located. Dothan Fire is checking the child and called for a Pilcher Ambulance, non emergency.
The combined law enforcement and EMS units quickly saturated the area. They searched a nearby pond, storm drains, trees and located the child safe. They searched the entire residence.
The child was found upstairs in the residence, asleep.
THANKS TO Dothan 911, Houston County 911, ALEA – Communications, and all combined law enforcement, fire – EMS for their quick response.
“Terry’s Fresh Green Boiled Peanuts”
You can find Terry’s Fresh Green Boiled Peanuts on the corner of State Hwy 109 and Hwy 605 this Friday, starting at 10:30 AM. We will be open until we sell out. Have a very blessed day!
DOTHAN: 1:30 PM Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Police Officers to Dollar Tree on Murphy Mill Road at Walmart Northside.
Multiple Dothan Police Patrol Officers, Dothan Police Major Will Glover, Dothan Poluce Captain Thomas Davis and Dothan Police Criminal Investigation DIvision is on the scene. There are no EMS or fire units on the scene.
The calls to 911 varied as in shots fired, possible robbery. Dothan Police Patrol and Command Staff rapid response to the scene. There were no injuries. The initial investigation was two subjects were in the back of the store and apparently got into a fight. One produced a gun and fired shots. Dothan Police rapid response swarmed the area and were able to detain both subjects and are investigating at this time.
This incident did not involve the business, Dollar Tree or any of their employees.
Dothan Police rapid response, and in force, prevented any injuries and quick detaining of the parties involved. The weapon was recovered.
Dothan Police Criminal Investigation Division is in charge of the investigation.
GRACEVILLE: On Monday evening RSN learned that Graceville Florida City Council is as normal as most communities. DRAMA!!!
The Mayor and City Council spent approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of discussion, listening to citizens concerning abolishment of the Graceville Police Department.
The first 45 minutes was between the Mayor, City Council and Graceville Police Chief. The discussion was why more money was needed, which was explained they get officers trained only to be recruited by other agencies which pay more money.
In the 45 minute discussion was Jackson County Sheriff Department dedicate a Deputy from 11 PM to 7 AM. That would be a cost of $ 100,000.00 per year, per deputy.
Then citizens talked. Multiple citizens voiced their desire to keep Graceville Police and for the Mayor and City Council to meet the suggestions of the Police Chief. They also praised the Graceville Police for their prompt and professional service.
Then there were a couple to call out the pay of non law enforcement staff and high wages paid. The citizens said the law enforcement needed to be paid more because they placed their lives on the line.
When viewing the video the man on the far left was far abolishing the police department. The man on the far right voiced keeping law enforcement. The man on the far right stated they were there to do what the people wanted, the people have spoken an dit is their job to make it work.
The lady with Graceville News told the Mayor and City Council they should be ashamed and the officers of Graceville Police Department deserved an apology from them. That they do a great job.
With 1 hour and thirty minutes the Graceville Mayor and City Council decided not to disband the police department and to establish a budget that would support 5 officers with a three percent increase. The next meeting is August 11.
COTTONWOOD: 06:58 AM Houston County 911 dispatched a motor vehicle accident at 9032 S. County Road 55 at Cottonwood.
At the time of dispatch the person reporting to 911 reported a red Z71 Chevrolet truck, overturned in the middle of the road and driver entrapped. The call was dispatched as critical injuries.
A Cottonwood Volunteer Fireman, Paul Hughes, came up on the accident immediately after the wreck occurred.
Cottonwood Fire, Cottonwood Rescue, Cottonwood Police Sgt. Justin Pearson, and Houston County Sheriff Department responded. Because of the information dispatched Dothan Fire Department was mutual aid requested for advanced life support and Ashford Fire Department was dispatched for extrication assistance.
As emergency units arrived the driver was able to self extricate the overturned vehicle. The driver side was crushed. The driver refused transport so Ashford and Dothan Fire were cancelled while responding.
It appears the driver was traveling south on County Road 55, went off the road on the left side, jumped a ditch and overturned in the middle of the road. It appear the vehicle perhaps travled down the road on the roof.
The vehicle traveled a long distance after leaving the roadway.
Cottonwood Police Sgt. Justin Pearson is in charge of the accident investigation.
