COFFEE COUNTY: 11:20 AM This morning Coffee County Sheriff Deputies arrested a Coffee County resident from Elba for tresspassing on a school bus.
At around 11:20 AM, Jessica Dye Davis, age 32, was arrested for Trespass on a School Bus in the first degree. Davis has been booked into the Coffee County Jail under a $ 6,000.00 bond.
The allegations are on Friday the school bus picked up one child from the Davis residence but the second child was not ready. Shortly thereafter the child was ready and the allegations are Davis chased the school bus down and blocked the bus with her vehicle. The allegations are Davis attempted to open the door to the bus and was refused. The Coffee County School Resource Deputy either responded or investigated the incident. The SRO assigned obtained arrest warrants on Davis and she was arrested and booked into the Coffee County Jail this morning.
In Alabama, trespassing on a school bus is a Class A misdemeanor under the Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr. Act (Alabama Code § 13A-7-4.2), punishable by a fine of up to $6,000 or up to one year in jail. You can be charged with this crime if you intentionally damage the bus, enter it without permission when the doors are open for loading/unloading, remain on the bus after being told to leave, or intentionally stop, delay, or impede the bus’s operation. However, children under 12 and authorized school personnel with a job-related reason for boarding are excluded from this law.
Specific Actions that Constitute Trespass
Damaging the bus:
Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus is a crime.
Unauthorized entry:
Entering a school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose.
Refusing to leave:
Remaining as an occupant of a public school bus and refusing to leave when asked by the bus driver or an authorized school official.
Intentionally interfering with operation:
Stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining a public school bus being operated for school purposes with the intent to commit a crime.
Penalties
A Class A misdemeanor, which can result in a fine of up to $6,000.
Imprisonment for up to one year in jail.
Purpose of the Law
The Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr. Act was named in honor of a heroic bus driver who died protecting students. Poland lost his lief in Dale County Alabama when a man entered a school bus, gundown Poland and took a child into an underground bunker where he was held for six days. Sniper teams entered the underground bunker, eliminating the gunman and saving the child. The late Wally Olson was Dale County Sheriff when this took place at Midland City. The Alabama Legislature passed this legislation naming it after Mr. Poland who gave his life for the children.
The law aims to enhance the safety of students and bus drivers by addressing the rise in unauthorized entries onto school buses.
Key Takeaway
Always have a lawful purpose for entering a school bus and never remain on the bus if asked to leave by an authorized person. If you are unsure about the rules, speak to the bus driver or school official from a safe distance, such as a window.
Section 13A-7-4.2 CODE OF ALABAMA
Trespass on a School Bus in the First Degree.
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Charles “Chuck” Poland, Jr., Act.
(b) A person commits the crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree if he or she is found guilty of doing any of the following:
(1) Intentionally demolishing, destroying, defacing, injuring, burning, or damaging any public school bus.
(2) Entering a public school bus while the door is open to load or unload students without a lawful purpose, while at a railroad grade crossing, or after being forbidden from doing so by the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(3) As an occupant of a public school bus, refusing to leave the bus on demand of the authorized school bus driver in charge of the bus, or upon demand of a principal of a school to which the bus is assigned or other duly authorized school system official.
(4) Intentionally stopping, impeding, delaying, or detaining any public school bus being operated for public school purposes with the intent to commit a crime therein.
(c) The crime of trespass on a school bus in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) Subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) do not apply to a child who is less than 12 years of age or to authorized school personnel who are boarding the school bus as a part of their job assignment.
WIREGRASS: This article is directed towards several.
First, if you were not re-elected in these past elections, I am sorry. But the registered voters elected you in the last election and you are in office until November. You owe it to the citizens you were elected by in the last election to serve each day until your term ends.
Some who lost this past election have quit, act as if you despise the community which elected you the past election because you were not re-elected. Your quitting before your term ends, not being the public servant you were elected to, to fulfilling your obligations shows you do not have any character.
RESIGN NOW if you are not going to do more than just get by.
Second, some of you lost election to a fellow council person or someone within the organization. And you have not spoken to the person the registered voters cast their vote for. GET OVER IT. You applied for a job and your employers selected another applicant. Congratulate them and do all you can do to help them hit the ground running day one. You have an obligation to the registered voters to do all you can do to help them hit person the registered voters have selected to take the torch and run to the next level.
GET OVER IT and show the character you demonstrated to the registered voters last election.
Third, to the Alabama Legislature. In County Commission elections, the current commissioners sit for one meeting following the election. And that meeting is to certify the election. They do not get a chance to blow the money or cause headaches for those taking the torch from you to run the race on the next level. The municipal offices, legislation needs to be updated where the positions change following the certification of the election.
Just because the registered voters decided to hire someone else, does not mean you have nothing to offer to the community. Government is not here for the people to serve but here to serve the people.
A large number of officer holders have forgotten they are to serve the people. The people are not here to serve the government. The Constitution reads “ WE THE PEOPLE ….”. Not the government is here to tell the people.
RISE UP, hold your chin high, and move to the next chapter of your life. You never know when GOD closes one door what HE has in store for you at the next door.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. Now rise up and be who you should be…
HENRY COUNTY: Do you want to know what Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship was doing on his Friday night? He was on the roads working with the deputies and municipalities serving and protecting the citizens of Henry County and guests thereof.
When you move from Deputy Sheriff to Sheriff you have moved from a daily enforcement officer to an administrative officer. You are involved in more office work, meetings, trips to Montgomery in making contacts for additional funding and to Washington for additional funding. As a Sheriff you become active in the Alabama Sheriff Association with various meetings to attend and have to stay on top of the Alabama Legislature. Henry County has had a great legislative working relationship in the past with State Representative Dexter Grimsley and an excellantone with Rick Rheem, Alabama State Representative and Senator Billy Beasley. But as Sheriff you have to work hand in hand with them.
With all of the administrative duties, the Sheriff does not get on the streets as much to actually be boots on the ground with the men and women on duty. You respond to major crimes, but reguslar day to day calls. Such as last evening Sheriff Blankenship, during the flood raining, responded with Abbeville Police Department and Henry County Sheriff Deputies to a man in camo attempting to break into cars at Money Ford. Sheriff Blankenship encountered the man as responding to Money’s in camo. The Sheriff ordered the man to put his hands on his head and he kept dropping them. The Sheriff noticed a gun in the man’s waist at which time the Sheriff drew his weapon ordering the man to keep his hands on top of his head. The Sheriff, which by then Abbeville Police was with him removed the firearm from the man and placed handcuffs detaining him. Unable to link that he was attempting to break into cars, the man was intoxicated and palced in jail for public intoxication.
Later the Sheriff was answering additional calls. Again, during the flooding rain last evening, Sheriff Eric Blankenship was in and out of the truck on calls assisting officers.
Why do I write this? Because you, the people served by the Sheriff, need to know your Sheriff not only handles administrative duties but field duties. Willing to serve along the men and women of the Henry County Sheriff Department, Abbeville Police Department, Headland Police Department, Newville Police Department, ALEA – Troopers, and fire/ems in Henry County in the performance of his duties to serve the people of all of Henry County Alabama.
SHERIFF ERIC BLANKENSHIP CHAT ON FACEBOOK
Lately a lof has been happening and Sheriff Eric Blankenship has not had time to do his FACEBOOK chat. He did one this week.
UPDATED @ 5:00 PM DOBB’S IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED AS OF TODAY. AFTER POSTING THEY ARE CLOSING THEY WERE SWAMPED WITH CUSTOMERS AND SOLD OUT OF EVERYTHING TO DO.
DOBB’S BBQ – OFFICIALLY CLOSED
DOTHAN: 1:18 PM Since 1948 many have enjoyed Dobb’s Famous BBQ located on Highway 231 South and Highway 203. This Sunday, September 28, 2025 at about 6:00 PM Dobb’s BBQ will close it’s doors and no longer be.
Mr. Euell Dobbs, father of Lee Dobb’s, first opened Dobb’s BBQ in Tallassee Alabama. In later years, 1948, Mr. Euell Dobb’s began Dobb’s Famous BBQ in a small business located where the Marathon Staion is located today at Highway 231 South and Ross Clark Circle. In those days Highway 231 was what is today Highway 203 which runs into Rehobeth. When they learned that Highway 231 was going to be built Dobb’s Famous BBQ moved to it’s current location where it has operated every since.
Euell Bobb’s son, Lee Dobb’s and Bill Livingston worked at Nip’s and Ernie’s Restaurant which was located in what is today Southside Furniture on S. St. Andrews at Cottnowood Road. Both Lee and Bill went to the military and when Lee finished his tour with the Navy and Bill with the Army, Mr. Euell Bobb’s had a stroke and was confined to a wheelchair. So Lee and Bill joined hands and took over the reigns of Dobb’s Famous BBQ. Lee and Bill remained partners until sometime in the late 1980’s or ealy 1990’s when Lee bought Bill out of the restaurant.
Over the years it has been the home of fine BBQ and Camp Stew. Also was known for Lee’s magic tricks such as the Hooie Stick, a dog on a leash with a harness collar. Lee would walk the dog through the restaurant, only there was no dog. The collar had wire around it and the leash with wire which kept it stiff. Remember one story where a lady keep looking at it but saw no dog and finally grabbed and then gave a sigh of relief.
Over the decades of business, Sunday night was a night many church groups would leave church and gather at Dobb’s. It was many different churches that gathered together to eat at Dobb’s.
Dobb’s was known in the early years as having curb boys. Long before drive thru’s, young people would go the car and take the order to return from the restaurant with a tray that fit onto the car window with the order. Many of a young person, their first jobs ever were as curb boys for Dobb’s Famous BBQ. In facts, three long term employee’s of Dobb’s BBQ, Charles Sensabaugh, Arthur Mayo and John Lindley worked as curb boys. The late Charles Sensabaugh worked for about 40 years with Dobb’s, beginning at age 14 or so as a curb boy. Arthus started at age 12 in the back until age 14 when he became a curb boy.
Lee Dobb’s passed away in 2017. Buried in the casket with him was the hooie-sooie stick which was a stick with two blades. Lee was the brains behind the hooie-sooie stick.
At the passing of Lee Dobb’s the business was left to John Lindley and Arthur Mayo, two long time employee’s of Dobb’s BBQ. They have oeprated the business and contimued on the Lee Dobb’s tradition. COVID struck nad they had to adapt and survive through COVID. Some health issues struck John in recent years. Then the construction on Highway 231 South which caused a huge negative impact on Dobb’s Famous BBQ business. The summer traffic carried Dobb’s through to the Thanksgiving and Christmas months. So John and Art made the decision, with their being older and JOhn’s health, the huge negative impact of the summer, that the time has come for them to retire. Today, Saturday, I ate at Dobb’s. Everyone is emotional knowing that as of 6:00 PM Sunday, life has changed.
Dobb’s Famous BBQ will be open at 11:00 AM on Sunday until about 6:00 PMon Sundy, September 28. Come out and enjoy some fine food on their last day in business.
Dobb’s Famous BBQ in Dothan Alabama … 1948 – 2025.
