COFFEE COUNTY: 2:11 PM Coffee County 911 dispatched Elba Fire, Enterprise Rescue, Elba Police and Coffee County Sheriff Deputies to a gunshot.
The location was 131 Tiger Drive in Elba. This is the Elba Board of Education. The reports to Coffee County 911 intially were a person appeared to be asleep in a vehicle. When units arrived it was quickly determined there was a gunshot wound and the person was deceased.
Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd, Coffee County Sheriff Criminal Investigators, Elba Police, Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham, Coffee County – Pike County District Attorney James Tarbox responded to the scene and the investigation started. Some questionable materials were found on the scene.
Elba Fire Department was on the scene. The materials found caused the Elba Fire Department to mutual aid request Dothan Police Bomb Squad and Dothan Fire Department Haz Mat Team to respond to the scene.
About 4:44 PM the bomb team began their approach into the scene to check the materials found. What the exact materials found to cause alarm are not known at this time but scene investigators used caution.
The investigation into the gunshot death was found to be self inflicted and an apparent suicide. The name has not been released and RSN does not normally cover suicide deaths. However the location and the need for bomb team and haz mat response is why this is covered.
The investigation continues into all of the facts and circumstances and what caused the apparent self inflicted gunshot wound.
But to the citizens, students and faculty of the school system there is not reason for any alarm.
MADRID: Houston County 911 dispatched Madrid Volunteer Fire, Hodgesville Volunteer Fire, Rehobeth Fire – Rescue, Houston County Sheriff Deputies, and ALEA – Troopers to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
The location was Highway 231 South and Decatur Road in Madrid.
At the time of dispatch Houston County 911received reports two, possibly three vehicles involved in the accident and the extent of injuries were unknown.
On arrival of emergency units it was determined two vehicles were involved. There were three injuries in the accident and all three were transported by Rehobeth Rescue. The injuries were not reported to be life threatening.
ALEA – Troopers are in charge of the accident investigation.
COFFEE COUNTY: 7:19 PM Coffee County 911 has dispatched Coffee County Sheriff Deputies, Enterprise Rescue, Five Star Volunteer Fire Department and ALEA – Troopers to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
The accident is located on Highway 167 and County Road 223 in the New Brockton area of Coffee County.
Reports to Coffee County 911, a single vehicle accident, roll over, with ejection. Reports are the patient is laying on the ground. The patient is complaining of shoulder pain and hurting all over.
Enterprise Rescue helicopter has been dispatched and has a 15 minute flying time to the scene. Coffee County Sheriff Department is establishing a landing zone now.
If more information comes available we will update. Anyone with scene pictures or additional information TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729.
COLUMBIA: In 6 days GOD created the heavens and the earth.
On October 10, 2018, a tornado struck Houston County, Alabama. That tornado did a considerable amount of damage across Houston County and the Wiregrass area.
On October 10, 2017, that tornado destroyed the Columbia Fire – Rescue building. It was no longer inhabitable and useful.
Since that time Columbia has gone through several Mayors and Councilmembers. The local legislative delegation secured funding to assist in constructing a new fire station.
Yet, from 2017 to February 20, 2025, the City of Columbia has yet to build a new fire station. They have a open lean-to in front of a garage that is open air for the fire trucks. Today, at the time this article is written, 10:16 AM, it is 37 degrees. The fire trucks, full of water and ready to save your home or business, are full of water. So I will ask the kindergarten class, it that good for the water in the truck at 37 degrees to be ready to fight a fire? The adults can not figure that out, so I figure some kindergarten students can surely answer that question correctly.
The City used some of the money and purchased the old Dollar Store. The floor is not strong enough to hold fire trucks. However, the building is suitable to fix for the office and living quarters for the fireman — much better digs than the RV trailer the city purchased years ago. Not even a house trailer, but a pull-behind travel trailer.
Now behind the Dollar Store there are an enclosed 50 x 100 pole frame building, six inch concrete floor, garage doors, materials, labor to stand it up, garage doors, and foam installation, totaling around $85,000 for a 5,000 square foot building. This is an estimate.
There is a number cruncher councilman who crunches everything. There is a councilman who was a founding member of Columbia EMS. Great people. But to the number cruncher, CRUNCH! Since 2017 to 2025 you have NOT GOTTEN A FIRE/EMS STATION YET. Not acceptable.
The the founder of EMS who always says we have volunteers, people DO NOT VOLUNTEER. In fact, you are paid to be a council member so you do not even volunteer. Have you gotten your EVOC to allow you to drive the ambulance when needed? NO.
I realize this ball has been kicked down by several mayors and council members. But it is way past time to get this done. It’s been eight years!!!
Either get it done or:
I, __________, hereby resign my position as Mayor/Councilman of Columbia Alabama, effective immediately, because I do not know how to do anything.
SIGNED __________________________________
You are doing a disservice to every man, woman and child who lives in or visits Columbia, Alabama and the time has come, and way past due, to GET IT DONE!!!
So let’s GO! GO! GO! in getting it done or you GO! GO! GO! home.
BTW – do not get mad at the men and women of the department. I came through Columbia recently and saw your lack of doing your jobs and did this article without their knowledge or consent. So be mad at Rickey Stokes. I have broad shoulders and do not care if you are mad at me. What I care about is that you took a oath to care about, the citizens you serve. You have forgotten about them.
HOUSTON COUNTY: 07:58 AM Houston County 911 dispatched a serious/critical motor vehicle accident on Highway 231 South and Smithville Road. The accident was dispatched as a bus versus a truck, with possible entrapment.
Houston County Sheriff Deputies, ALEA – Troopers, Hodgesville Volunteer Fire Department, Rehobeth Fire – Rescue, Taylor Fire Command Unit were called to the scene.
The accident involved a southbound Greyhound Bus and a truck pulling a cattle trailer with about 5 cows.
Rehobeth Fire – Rescue transported four or five patients. One is reported to have extensive injuries. At 8:45 AM the scene command called for Cottonwood Rescue to respond to transport an additional patient who requested transport.
Dothan Fire Sgt. Justin Godwin, off duty, and others checked the cattle. Dothan Livestock and Auction sent a trailer and the cattle were off loaded onto another trailer. All of the cattle were checked and none appeared to be injured.
Impact of the bus was directly into the doors of the truck pulling the cattle trailer.
ALEA – Trooper Motor Carrier Safety Unit has been dispatched.
It is 41 degrees. Volunteer Fireman Cliff Godwin called a couple of churches attempting to get a bus to pick up the passengers. There are about 25 people standing beside the road who were on the bus. Memphis Baptist Church has dispatched their church bus to the scene to transport the passengers somewhere warm until Greyhound gets another bus. THANK YOU to Memphis Baptist Church for their stepping up to help.
ALEA – Trooper Carlton is in charge of the accident investigation.
Michael Preston Gamble was reported missing to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office on February 13, 2025. He was last seen on National Road near Rehobeth on February 12, 2025 around 10:00 P.M.
Mr. Gamble is autistic, has severe ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome. He left his residence without any means of communication and transportation.
If you have any information regarding Mr. Gamble, please call the Houston County Sheriff’s Office at 334-677-4808.
