rickey@rickeystokesnews.com

Text Rickey: 334-790-1729

REHOBETH:    This Saturday is the day – RED, WHITE and BOOM !!! in Rehobeth.

Rehobeth Red, White & Boom is back…bigger and better than ever!

Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun, food, and fireworks!

The event is totally FREE, no ticket is required, and parking is available by donation only.

It truly is the most exciting and unforgettable night in Rehobeth, AL.

Don’t miss it!

Approximately 7,000 People Expected to Attend

Through the support of local businesses and sponsors this event is FREE to our community!

FREE parking

FREE Inflatables

FREE Activities

FREE Concert

The only money needed is for food, retail and craft vendors and a helicopter ride!

It really is one of the most fun nights in Rehobeth!

Live performances by Jonboy Storey, Ashley Walls, and Crews Wright

Enjoy an incredible live concert brought to you by Mike Schmitz Automotive Group featuring top talent before the fireworks! Concert & Fireworks will be inside the Football Stadium with plenty of seating and stage front standing room access. Entertainment will begin at 6:30 PM and the Fireworks will kickoff at 9:00 PM.

Provided FREE by Stone Martin Builders, Kid’s Corner includes a large gated area with inflatables in all shapes and sizes. Kids ranging in ages from 12 months to 12 years old can come and bounce the day away for free.

End the night with a bang! The breathtaking fireworks show at 9:00 PM will light up the Rehobeth sky, creating a picture-perfect ending to an incredible evening.

Indulge in the best local eats from a variety of food trucks and vendors. Shop retail and craft booths for unique finds and local treasures.  Lots of free activities for all ages.

Test your aim at our thrilling Axe Throwing Booth! Ages 12+ can take a turn at the mobile axe trailer—fully enclosed and supervised for safety. Younger kids have a fun inflatable axe-throwing setup with Velcro axes so they can join the action too.

Mechanical Bull

A little girl is riding a mechanical bull.

Sun South John Deere has brought the Mechanical Bull back this year and wants to see who can ride it the longest? It’s fun for all ages, so stop by and test your might against the bull and walk away with the bragging rights for 2025! Who will get thrown off, and who will beat the bull?

RWB Queens

Two women in long dresses are standing next to each other on a stage.

Come meet all of our Miss Rehobeth Red White & Boom Queens. Each represents our festival so well!

Helicopter Rides

09:46 AM   CONGRATULATIONS To Lt. Eddie Ingram – Retired Effective Today

09:46 AM CONGRATULATIONS To Lt. Eddie Ingram – Retired Effective Today

JACKSON COUNTY FL:       Today marks the official day of retirement for Jackson County Sheriff Lt. Eddie Ingram. After 46 years of law enforcement service Lt. Eddie Ingram is hanging up the badge.

Born and raised in Houston County, the son of the late Frankie and Shirley Ingram, a graduate of Ashford Academy, Eddie Ingram first started his law enforcement tenure under Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark in 1978. He later worked under Houston County Sheriff Lamar Hadden and Deputy Coroner under Coroner Rickey Stokes. Eddie Ingram worked under Jackson County Florida Sheriff John McDaniel.

During his 46 years in law enforcement he worked in Villa Rica Georigia, Barbour County Sheriff Department, Quitman County Georgia Sheriff Department, Holmes County Sheriff Department and Summerdale Police Department. Some of these positions were as Deputy Sheriff, Chief Deputy Sheriff and Chief of Police.

In the beginning years Eddie Ingram was a very active member of Houston County Rescue Unit. He grew up with his dad, Frankie Ingram, involved in emergency services and serving as Houston County Coroner. That developed his passion for law enforcement.

On June 18 Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield hosted a retirement celebration for Lt. Eddie Ingram. It was a well attended event with many law enforcement officers that have worked with Lt. Ingram. Some of those included Retired Jackson County Florida Sheriff Lou Roberts, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza and others as well as his wife, Lisa and sister Kellye Epperson.

Sheriff Edenfield described Lt. Ingram as one who always showed up ready to work and served the citizens well. That he was a good leader and kept his vehicle and equipment in great condition.

Ingram was a dedicated law enforcement officer who looked after his fellow officers to make sure they each went home at the end of the watch. He was fair with the citizens and always made sure they were treated fair.

Early on he worked with Jackson County Sheriff Department. So it was great that he ended his circle of service with Jackson County Sheriff Department.

He and his wife reside in Enon, the community between Cowarts – Ashford and Webb.

CONGRATULATIONS on your retirement.

7:09 AM.   Lightning Struck Dothan – Houston County 911 – NOT A JOINT 911 CENTER

7:09 AM. Lightning Struck Dothan – Houston County 911 – NOT A JOINT 911 CENTER

DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY:      Last evening during the weather reports are lightning struck the operations of the Dothan – Houston County Communications District building.

With the lightning strike of the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Building it caused the computerized system to go down. This forced all operations back to pen and paper. So during the storm striking and things happening everywhere those in the 911 Center stepped up to the plate and you would have never known they were thrown a curve from the system as they know to pen and paper.

The system in Dothan – Houston County is a screwy system. (1) Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board owns the building and the equipment such as the Computer Aided Dispatch system. (2) The dispatchers work for (a) Dothan Police (b) Houston County Sheriff. None other 911 dispatchers work for the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board.

What was to be a JOINT communications center “ IS NOT” in anyway a “joint” communications center. It is a co-located but not joint. The Dothan – Houston County Communications District is managed by a board of 9 people, they only three people (1) Director (2) lady to input data and address (3) person to look after the building. They have zero management of any 911 dispatchers but own the equipment.

DOTHAN:    The 911 dispatchers work for Dothan Police Department under the ultimate command of Dothan Police Chief Will Benny. There is a police captain and a communications center manager. They dispatch all of Dothan Police and Dothan Fire. Dothan Fire Chief sits on the 911 Board but has no command authority over the 911 dispatchers.

HOUSTON COUNTY:   The 911 dispatchers work for Houston County Sheriff Department under the ultimate command of Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza. There is a captain in the Sheriff Department and communications center manager. They dispatch all of the Houston County Sheriff Deputies, all municipal police departments in Houston County ( with exception of Dothan Police ) which include Kinsey, Webb, Columbia, Gordon, Cottonwood, Ashford, and Taylor; all 17 Houston County Volunteer Fire Departments, and 5 Houston County EMS.

Both Dothan and Houston County have a ring down to Pilcher Ambulance when they are needed. This needs to be automated because over 200 man hours a year to get Pilcher Ambulance rolling when it could be automated.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:     Under the Alabama 911 laws Houston County has to pay rent for Emergency Management to be located in the Dothan – Houston County Communications District building. Unless a tornado or hurricane  they do not have to be in that building. Houston County has to pay an estimated $ 130,000.00 plus/minus to be in that building. They could move out into an existing building and save at least $ 100,000.00 a year and operate in the building only in a tornado or hurricane. And they have operated remotely in the last storms. The Houston County Commission Chairman and Houston County Commission STOPPED Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management from responding and being proactive calling them a “planning agency” only. Some Mayors across the county have complained but this Houston County Commission Chairman and Commission are deaf and do not care. Not being critical of Mark Powell, but the county people do not know him and Emergency Management has become a useless agency, because that is the desire of the Houston County Commission Chairman and Houston County Commission – especially D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring. They need to move out and save $ 100,000.00 plus a year. So when commissioners say they are managing tax dollars, CALL THEM OUT… WASTING TAX DOLLARS!!!! Challenge me on it guys !!!

There is a wall ( when I was on the board I voted against ) between the Dothan 911 dispatchers and Houston County 911 dispatchers. As Ronald Regan said, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!

The 911 center should be combined,, under one management. Because communications is the one single vital component that keeps the entire system operating and successful. But TURF prevents that from happening.

HATS OFF the the boots in the 911 center, you did a FANTASTIC JOB. Thrown a curve ball but the emergency system kept on ticking without delays.

NOTE:   I served on the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board, helped change the legislation, was on the board when the building was constructed, and former Chairman of the Board. When my term expired, not getting along with some Houston County Commissioners, especially D3 Ricky Herring, I rotated off and was not re-appointed. Which was fine with me because I could tell as it is.

UPDATED @ 9:23 PM. VIDEO  8:39 PM.    Working Structure Fire – Woodleigh Road – Dothan – Chapelwood

UPDATED @ 9:23 PM. VIDEO 8:39 PM. Working Structure Fire – Woodleigh Road – Dothan – Chapelwood

DOTHAN:      8:39 PM.    Dothan 911 dispatched a structure fire in the 100 block of Woodleigh Road.

On arrival of Dothan Police Patrol they reported a working structure fire, smoke and flames visible. Dothan Police SERGEANT Blake McAllister reported he has evacuated the residence next door.

Multiple Dothan Fire Engines are on the scene. One connecting to a fire hydrant. Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams is in service and responding.

Anyone with scene pictures TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729.

8:44 PM    Dothan 911 dispatched a motor vehicle accident with injuries at 2390 Ross Clark Circle. The wreck appears to be a single vehicle accident, a semi verses ditch.

Dothan Fire Engine Companies, Pilcher Ambulance, Dothan Police and Pilcher Ambulance responded. All while working fire in Chapelwood.

UPDATED @ 8:54 PM   

Dothan Fire is actively fighting an offensive attack on the Woodleigh Road fire. Have fire in the overhead.

Dale County law enforcement and EMS working a motor vehicle accident on Dale County Road 10. There is Entrapment and roadway closed completely.

Cowarts Volunteer Fire and Ashford Volunteer Fire are fires. One on Eddins Road and South Broad Street.

Webb Volunteer Fire and Columbia Volunteer Fire are working trees down.

UPDATED @ 9:16 PM   

Dothan Fire Engine 10 ( West Main Street ) and Pilcher Ambulance are transporting the home owner to Flowers Hospital, non emergency.

UPDATED @ 9:13 PM WEATHER UPDATE    7:07 PM.   Weather and Trees Down

UPDATED @ 9:13 PM WEATHER UPDATE 7:07 PM. Weather and Trees Down

UPDATED FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 9:12 PM   

The National Weather Service has issued SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH in effect until 3 AM CST on Thursday for Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston County.

WIREGRASS:      7:07 PM.    The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Houston, Dale and Geneva Counties in the Wiregrass. Please be alert and safe. Warning issued until 8:30 PM.

In Geneva County, on Highway 85 in the Bellwood Community, Belllwood Volunteer Fire and Hartford Rescue are on a tree and power line down and motor vehicle accident.

An additional Geneva County call in the area of Black. A motor vehicle accident. Because Hartford Rescue was in Bellwood the call was rolled to Geneva Rescue.

Malvern Volunteer Fire Department ( 7:00 PM ) dispatched to South County Road 49 and College Avenue to a tree down.

At 7:01 in Geneva County trees down on Geneva County Road 41 and County 45.

At 6:28 PM Southern Junction Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a tree down at 181 Martin Road.

6:30 PM   Wicksburg Fire- Rescue was dispatched to West U.S. Highway 84 and State Highway 92. A tree across the roadway blocking the entire road. Because it was a state highway ALDOT ( Alabama Department of Transportation ) was dispatched to remove the tree. Wicksburg Fire – Rescue ( Volunteers ) standing by protecting the motoring public ( which is not their job ).

VOLUNTEERS are criticized by those who are paid to do this work or by county commissioners but the VOLUNTEERS give of their time and resources to protect the public.

I laugh at some law enforcement who are critical because a VOLUNTEER fire or rescue has a red light on their vehicle. Well, they are protecting the public. This is a true story, I was at Main and Oates one morning and there was a wreck with injuries in Cowarts on Highway 84 and Forrester Road. I went and took scene pictures, posted the article, went to Eastside Waffle House and ate breakfast. As I was leaving between Bojangles and Hardee’s the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction came by with lights and siren. Well, the injured had long been gone to the hospital. What was his emergency? To get a VIN and tag number.

Yet law enforcement has chewed out a volunteer fireman turning on his red light going to a structure fire. Which is more important, the fire or getting a tag number and VIN? Just sayin!!!  The VOLUNTEERS work to save lives and property and just because they do not do it on a full time basis, THANK THEM!!!

Bot trying to be critical of law enforcement, but I am being critical of commissioners who complain and have no idea what all they do… and the costs associated.