DOTHAN: After 45 years employment with the City of Dothan the Honorable Roy Driggers ran a successful campaign for Mayor of the City of Dothan.
With vision Mayor Roy Driggers, with a population of around 13,000 people, embarked on plans to construct the Dothan Civic Center also known as the Roy Driggers Municipal Building.
The torch for Mayor was handed to James ( Jimmy ) Grant who brought it on home. In 1974 the municipal offices for Dothan moved into the Roy Driggers Municipal Building also known as the Dothan Civic Center. A complex that would serve Dothan for 50 years from 1974 and population growth to 71,258 today.
In 2022 then Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper, Mayor Mark Saliba and members of the Dothan City Commission began LOVE DOTHAN. In the unveiling of LOVE DOTHAN was an aggressive campaign to rebuild downtown Dothan. It has been a known fact that cities without a vibrant downtown do not grow.
Today Dothan City Manager Randy Morris, Mayor Mark Saliba and members of the Dothan Commission and others broke ground on the new Dothan Municipal complex. A new complex that will be constructed on the corner of Main and Oates Street across from the Houston County Courthouse.
Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba outlines the history of Dothan and the Roy Driggers Municipal Complex today.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Today RSN had the great honor of attending the Friends of Dupree sponsored State and Local Officials meeting.
The luncheon meeting began at 11:00 AM at Antoich Baptist Church. The meeting was attended by state and local officials for a luncheon and presentation. A delicious country lunch.
The lunch was followed by a ground breaking at Dupree School. A school which was contructed before a lot of us was ever thought of, much less ever born.
A lot of history in the school. Friends of Dupree School have renovated the school into something great. A lot of history in that building and the people who came through there for education.
Some on hand, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Houston County Commissioner D2 Tracy Adams, Former D2 Houston County Commissioner Doug Sinquefield, Alabama State Senator Donnie Chesteen, Alabama State Representative Paul Lee, Wiregrass Electric Brad Kimbro, Cowarts Mayor Randy Rowland, Columbia Councilman Jim Hicks, Ashford Mayor Carole Barfield, Ashford Council Members Blake Rosenkoetter, James Smith, John Massey, Dr. Bruce Wozow and some other officials and a host of volunteers of Friends of Dupree School.
This group is to be honored for the dedication and work they have done on this historical Dupree School.
FORT NOVOSEL: On Tuesday Headland Police Department, Henry County Sheriff Department, Dale County Sheriff Department and the Military Police at Fort Novosel investigated a threat.
While not getting into details the threat was a terminated employee on base at Fort Novosel.
The combined agencies spent all day Tuesday investigating and searching for the person who was alleged to have made threats. The combined agencies each contributed to a successful outcome.
There are a lot of rumors. And a lot of those rumors are false. The subject was located and appropriate action has been taken. At this point everyone is safe, no injuries or loss of life.
The purpose of this article is only to stop the rumors circulating. ALL ALIVE AND WELL!
Headland Police Chief Mark Jones was locked being closed doors on Tuesday working on this matter. RSN could not get into see him, which we have attempted for two weeks. He also has not accepted or returned call in over two weeks. Guess we have made him mad. But yesterday do know he was neck deep working on the Fort Novosel case because of ties to Headland and Henry County.
If you happen to see him ask him to CALL RICKEY 334-790-1729.
DOTHAN: At a recent Dothan School Board meeting a “fellow” school board member did a HIT on Chairman Scott Childers.
It seems that Melanie Hill, a good friend of WTVY News Director and her husband, who is a member of the State System, had a censure letter this Montgomery based group did on Chairman Scott Childers. Something clearly that Melanie Hill was 100% out of line in the meeting. Chairman Scott Childers had not even received the letter. But “fellow” school board member Melanie Hill read it when it was not on the agenda.
Melanie Hill has led around Brett Strickland, Brenda Guilford and Franklin Jones like dogs on a leash. These three have followed Melanie Hill in a 4 to 3 vote on all issues. Well Chairman Scott Childers has hired Montgomery Attorney Joe Espy to represent him. Espy, a Henry County native, is amoung the top attorney’s in the State of Alabama. He does not play and has forgotten more than most know.
MEDIA RELEASE FROM ATTORNEY JOE ESPY
MEDIA STATEMENT
CONTACT: JOE ESPY
ATTORNEY FOR SCOTT CHILDERS
334-263-6621
STATEMENT OF SCOTT CHILDERS
Scott Childers has been the Chairman of the Dothan City Board of Education since
October 4, 2021. As Chairman, his primary focus has been and will continue to be the children
of the school system. Scott has been concerned for some time that the Superintendent and some
Members of the Board of Education do not share that same focus. Scott recently received a letter
from Superintendent Dennis Coe raising certain matters that are unfounded. He is also
concerned that the letter is political and may be related to the upcoming elections.
These disagreements are currently scheduled for the next Board meeting on June 24,
2025.
THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE BOARD MEETING
DOTHAN: It was year 2022 in the Dothan Civic Center then Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper anveiled the plan LOVE DOTHAN. Included in the plan were visions of the City Center Project.
Fast forward to June 10, 2025 ( TODAY ) and the ribbon cutting of one of the first major projects, Dothan Opera House. The plans from RDG and the construction by Brasfield and Goree. The Assistant Superintendent was a product of Dothan Alabama, Ben Mathews, son of Eben and Shayne Mathews.
Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba gave the history this morning. The Opera House was a vision of then Dothan Mayor Buck Baker and the Dothan City Commission in 1913. There was a vision and need for municipal offices and auditorim. The construction began in 1914 and completed in 1915. The original contruction price was $ 44,000.00.
The Roy Driggers Municipal Building – Dothan Civic Center – was constructed in 1974. The Dothan Municipal Offices were then moved from the Opera House to the DOthan Civic Center. That was some 51 years ago.
In 1915 the population of Dothan Alabama was around 7,000. At the opening of Dothan Opera House in 1915, it is estimated that 1,000 people were on hand.
Today Dothan City Manager Randy Morris, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, members of the Dothan City Commission, the local legislative delegation, Troy Fountian of Wiregrass Foundation, and others cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the newly renovated Dothan Opera House.
Following the ribbon cutting all were invited inside for a show case of the upcoming events scheduled for 2025. Some great and exciting entertainment lined up. There is new and modern sound and lighting system with many capabilities for entertainment.
Check out the future events which Clay Dempsey describes in the video.
DOTHAN: After 45 years employment with the City of Dothan the Honorable Roy Driggers ran a successful campaign for Mayor of the City of Dothan.
