COLUMBIA: Houston County Sheriff 911 dispatched Houston County Sheriff Deputies and COlumbia Police Chief in the early morning hours to the Marathon in Columbia.
The scene of a burglary attempt and robbery of the store. Reports are the phone lines were cut before suspects attemmpted to enter the store by breaking the glass.
Multiple Houston County Sheriff Deputies – Criminal Investigators and Columbia Police Chief have been on the scene and currently on the scene.
Anyone with information call the Houston County Sheriff Department, 334-677-4808.
DOTHAN: 8:05 PM Dothan 911 dispatched a structure fire at 2014 Sullivan Drive in Dothan. Initial call to Dothan 911 the kitchen is on fire.
On arrival of Dothan Fire Engine 10 ( West Main ), on arrival E 10 reported a working structure fire. The initial reports are a kitchen fire. Fire on the rear of residence and front of residence. Dothan Fire Engine Company 3 ( Whatley Drive ), Engine Company 6 ( Napier Field Road ) and Engine Company 9 ( Technology Drive ) on Scene. Dothan Fire Chief David Hasty is responding and Battalion 2 ( West Side ). Truck 3 ( Whatley Drive ) is also on the scene.
All occupants have exited but reports are two animals inside and Dothan Fireman attempting to locate.
The is an offensive attack. Fireman are conducting an interrior search, which is normal even when “told” all occupants have exited.
8:16 PM Heavy fire reported on back side of residence.
8:18 PM Fire crew requests ventilation.
8:19 PM Truck 3 has primary “all clear” on search on humans. Unable to locate pets.
8:20 PM Dothan Fire Marshall is responding. Fire knock down. Three crews inside, continuing to do overall. Primary search complete. Offensive Mode.
8:27 PM Dothan Fire Chief David Hasty personally on the scene.
8:29 PM A secondary search of the residence conducted. No human’s found, no animals found.
ITEM 10: ” Amending CHapter 82, “SOLID WASTEOF THE CITY OF DOTHAN …”
on page 12:
“BEGINNING OCTOBER 2026 BILLING CYCLE $ 20.00 PER MONTH…BEGINNING OCTOBER 2027 BILLING CYCLE THROUGH THE SEPTEMBER 2030 BILLING CYCLE RATE SHALL INCREASE BY $ 5.00 PER MONTH.”
“BEGINNING OCTOBER 31, 2031 BILLING CYCLE RESIDENTIAL RATE SHALL INCREAS EBY 3.5% EACH OCTOBER… A FUTURE COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS MAY BE CONDUCTED AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY MANAGER”.
MORE THAN ONE GARABGE CAN, AN ADDITIONAL $ 10,00, OVER AND ABOVE THE INCREASE!!!!
REGISTERED VOTERS, here is what is extremely embarrasing. Dothan City Manager Randy Morris also has on the agenda for the Mayor and Dothan Commissioners, ITEM NUMBER 15…
ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SLATE COMMUNICATIONS FOR SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH REBRANDING OF THE CITY OF DOTHAN AND THE TRANSITION OF DOTHAN LEISURE SERVICES TO DOTHAN PARKS AND RECREATION FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $ 89,840.00, AND APPROVING SUCH FUNDS FOR SAID AGREEMENT”.
Dothan City Manager Randy Morris, is knocking the socks off the residents on increasing the residential fees for garbage fees, hidden on page 12 of the document!!!!
YEAR 2026 $ 20.00 per month: YEAR 2027 $ 25.00 per month: YEAR 2028 $ 30.00
YEAR 2029 $ 35 YEAR 2030 $ 40 YEAR 2031 $ 42: YEAR 2032 $ 44.10
A 3.5 % increase each year, no ending. By year 2035, about $ 51.05 per month, plus $ 10.00 a month for more than 1 garbage can, beginning in 2026.
The 3.5 % increase is fugured as follows: $ 42.00 per month, a 3.5% increase is $ 2.10 per month. The next year whatever that amount, then a 3.5% increase on that.
FOLKS … Dothan City Manager Randy Morris wants to increase everything. Morris contract is up for renewal in September, guess he will want a huge increase on his already $ 225,0000.00 per year contract… or $ 616.43 per day, 365 days per year contract Randy Morris already has !!!!
DOTHAN, Ala. — A longstanding National Peanut Festival tradition is moving to a new
time of year. Beginning in 2027, the Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival
Pageants will move from their traditional fall dates to July, a change designed to better
serve contestants, schools and communities while allowing the pageants to continue
calling the Dothan Civic Center home a little longer.
The 2027 Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant will be held Saturday, July
17, followed by the Miss National Peanut Festival Preliminary Competition on
Friday, July 23, and Finals on Saturday, July 24.
The decision came after National Peanut Festival Pageant officials began exploring the
possibility of moving the pageants from the Dothan Civic Center following the 2026
season. For Pageant Directors Angila Brannon and Mary-Grace Martin, those
conversations prompted a larger discussion about both the location and timing of the
pageants.
“We already knew how important the layout of the Dothan Civic Center is to our
pageants,” Brannon and Martin said. “It works incredibly well for everything that
happens both onstage and behind the scenes, and our contestants LOVE that big
stage. When we were faced with the possibility of moving after 2026, we began
exploring every option available to us. Moving to July gives us the opportunity to stay at
the Civic Center a little longer while also making some positive changes for our
contestants.”
As pageant leadership explored the possibilities, another important consideration
became clear: the impact of the traditional October pageant schedule on contestants
and the schools they represent.
With contestants representing schools throughout the Wiregrass and surrounding areas,
pageant activities during the school year can require contestants to miss valuable
classroom time. With the number of contestants and schools represented each year,
those absences can also affect overall school attendance.
“Our contestants are students first, and that became a very important part of this
conversation,” Brannon and Martin said. “What began as a discussion about our venue
ultimately gave us an opportunity to look at the entire pageant experience. Moving to
July means less missed school for our contestants and less impact on the schools they
represent.”The move is also expected to make participation more accessible for Miss
contestants. The traditional October schedule can be particularly challenging for young
women beginning college, moving away from home or participating in high school
athletics, cheerleading and other extracurricular activities.
“We know there are young women who would love the opportunity to represent their
communities but have had to consider whether they could balance the October pageant
schedule with college, cheer, athletics or other fall commitments,” Brannon and Martin
said. “We hope moving to July removes some of those barriers and encourages even
more young women to participate in their local preliminary pageants.”
2027 National Peanut Festival Pageant Dates
• Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant: Saturday, July 17, 2027
• Miss National Peanut Festival Preliminary Competition: Friday, July 23, 2027
• Miss National Peanut Festival Finals: Saturday, July 24, 2027
Preliminary Pageants and Eligibility
Preliminary pageants for the 2027 National Peanut Festival Pageant season will
be held between November 21, 2026, and January 30, 2027.
Pageant leadership hopes the new dates will encourage increased participation at the
local level and provide more eligible contestants with the opportunity to represent their
communities at the National Peanut Festival Pageants.
For the Little Miss division, contestants must be first-time first graders and must
either live in the community represented by the preliminary pageant or attend school
within that community. A qualifying preliminary pageant must have a minimum of three
Little Miss contestants.
For the Miss division, contestants must be at least 16 years old by October 17,
2027, and must either live in the community represented by the preliminary pageant or
attend school within that community. A qualifying preliminary pageant must have a
minimum of three Miss contestants.
Additional eligibility requirements or other factors may be established by individual local
preliminary pageants. Prospective contestants should contact their local preliminary
pageant director for complete eligibility requirements and competition information.
What Is Changing — and What Is Not
While the National Peanut Festival Pageants are moving to July, there are no changes
to contestant age requirements or competition attire requirements for 2027.
“We know a change this significant naturally brings questions,” Brannon and Martin
said. “We want our contestants, families and preliminary directors to know that we are
not changing the ages or attire requirements. The traditions and so many of the thingsour contestants and communities love about the National Peanut Festival Pageants will
remain the same.”
For generations, the National Peanut Festival Pageants have brought together young
women and girls representing communities throughout the region. Contestants build
friendships, develop confidence, proudly represent their hometowns and become part of
a tradition shared by generations of National Peanut Festival queens and contestants.
While the crowns will now be awarded earlier in the year, the newly crowned Miss and
Little Miss National Peanut Festival will continue to serve as ambassadors for the
National Peanut Festival throughout their year of service, including appearances and
activities leading up to and during the annual Festival.
“Changing the dates of a tradition this special is not something we take lightly,” Brannon
and Martin added. “But sometimes change gives you an opportunity to make something
we already love even better. We can keep the Civic Center and that big stage our
contestants love a little longer, reduce missed school, create more opportunities for our
Miss contestants and hopefully encourage even greater participation in our preliminary
pageants. We are excited about what this next chapter will bring.”
The dates are changing. The tradition is not.
Additional information regarding preliminary pageants, contestant registration and the
2027 National Peanut Festival Pageant season will be released as preparations
continue.
About the National Peanut Festival Pageants
The Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageants are longstanding traditions
of the National Peanut Festival in Dothan, Alabama. Each year, representatives from
communities across the region come together to celebrate hometown pride, leadership,
friendship and the agricultural heritage of the Wiregrass
It has been a very busy and rough weekend for first responders in Holmes County.
We had six people overheat at the grand opening of Riverbend, with several requiring transport. Then we had two major wrecks involving fatalities.
In one wreck today six people were either airlifted or transported by ground, and another wreck yesterday involved two to three additional patients requiring transport. On top of all that, we had numerous other calls and hospital transfers stacking up.
I am thankful we have such a great group of Fire, EMS, and LEO who don’t hesitate to jump on an ambulance, cover a station, or simply pitch in wherever they are needed. That is what makes Holmes County different.
We also had our neighboring brothers and sisters from Walton County and Geneva County step up and come help. It truly was all hands on deck. Our resources were stretched and, at times, depleted, but others stepped in and filled the gap.
Our communications staff was also slammed, working tirelessly to navigate fire, EMS, helicopters, deputies, and the hundreds of 911 calls pouring in. They were pushed hard trying to keep everything moving, coordinated, and accounted for during an extremely high-volume and high-stress weekend.
First responders are human. Tragedies affect them just like they affect everyone else. The difference is that we are often expected to put a smile on our face, get back in the truck, and keep going.
You really don’t know what it is like unless you have been there.
We may fuss and grumble at times, and we may not always agree on everything, but when the crap hits the fan, you get to see where the rubber meets the road. We may not be perfect, but we get the job done.
I couldn’t imagine being the Sheriff anywhere else.
People often ask, “What can we do to help?” The answer is simple: pray. Pray for the families who lost loved ones, and pray for the first responders who are carrying what they saw and what they had to do. Many of them are struggling, and those prayers matter more than most people will ever know.
Thank you to each and every person who answered the call this weekend. Whether you were on the front line, working behind the scenes, covering a station, driving an ambulance, dispatching calls, responding from another agency, or simply helping wherever you could — Holmes County appreciates you.
Take care of one another. 🙏🇺🇸
Bonifay Fire-Rescue
Holmes County Sheriff’s Office / Fire Rescue Division
Holmes County EMS – FL
Walton County Fire Rescue, Florida
Geneva Rescue.
HENRY COUNTY: 10:38 AM Henry County 911 dispatched Headland Fire – Rescue, Henry County Sheriff Deputies, Abbeville Fire – Rescue and ALEA – Troopers to a motor vehicle accident with injuries, Highway 431 and Henry County Road 45.
On the arrival of the first Henry County Sheriff Deputy a mutual aid request for Survival Flight to auto launch. A flight time of 15 minutes from call.
The injuries were downgraded from critical to moderate. A two vehicle accident which has closed the southbound lanes of traffic on Highway 431. Patient self extricated.
UPDATED @ 10:54 AM
Heavy damage to vehicles is reported. Abbeville Police Chief Marlos Walker is also on the scene of the accident.
