FACEBOOK MESSAGE FROM JAMES BARNES … HIS 10TH BIRTHDAY – APRIL 13, 2025
Good morning, and what a beautiful day. Today I turn 10 years old. What a blessing from our father.
In the last 10 years he has given me another granddaughter. I want to thank Jesus for helping me and blessing me and my family. Thank you my friends for loving and supporting us all these years. I love you all for helping us and loving us all these years. We love y’all and God bless all of you.
A 2020 ARTICLE FROM WDHN ABOUT JAMES BARNES
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — At Covenant United Methodist Church’s first Wednesday, the night started out with worship, and after the music was done, James Barnes, a member of Covenant for over 30 years, took the stage to share his story.
In 2014, after undergoing an X-ray, Barnes found out he had cancer and three tumors in his heart.
“They sent me to a heart specialist, and he spent about ten minutes with me, and he looked at me, and he said it’s inoperable and sent me to an oncologist,” Barnes said. “Well, the oncologist looked at us, and he talked. He finally said I’ve never heard of cancer in the heart. He turned around and googled it in front of us on the internet, and 15 cases came up. Now, it’s rare, but it’s out there.”
On April 13, Barnes phoned his wife, Laura, and asked her to return home to take him to the emergency room at Flowers Hospital.
“My heart was out of rhythm; it was beating 190 beats a minute,” he said. “They put an I.V. in me and tried to slow it down with drugs, and that didn’t do any good, so they got the paddles out, and they hit me with 150 volts. My son told me it picked me up off the table. I remember that one, but it didn’t touch it so then they hit me 200 volts.”
Just after 9:30 a.m., Barnes flatlined and was pronounced dead by three doctors at Flowers Hospital, and for three hours, he laid in a hospital bed, clinically dead, until a Covenant church member arrived to say “Goodbye”. She touched Barnes, and he woke up.
However, doctors still didn’t expect him to survive, giving him just 24 hours.
“The third day, he comes in my room, and he says ‘don’t ask me, I don’t know, this is a God thing, and we don’t have any control,’” Barnes said.
Four years later, and Barnes is still sharing his story with anyone who will listen, believing that God called him back to shed hope to those who need it.
Encouraging people to live every moment like it’s their last, to cherish the time you have with loved ones, and sharing the blessing of what God did for him, that’s why James Barnes is what’s good in the neighborhood this week.
DOTHAN: 03:40 AM Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Fire Engine Companies 1 ( Central ), Truck 1 ( Central ), Engine 4 ( Southside ), Engine 5 ( Eastside ), Dothan Fire Battalion Chief Ash, Pilcher Ambulance to a structure fire at 1001 Citadel Avenue in Dothan.
At the same time Dothan Fire was dispatched to a medical emergency on the northside. A totally different call but published to show 4 of the 10 Dothan Fire Engines and 2 Pilcher Ambulances rolling at the same time. Also published to show a small volume of the calls that hit the 911 Center at the same time that the 911 dispatchers are getting emergency units rolling.
Dothan Police Patrol quick on the scene and reported structure fully involved. Also reported a car and boat were near the structure on fire.
03:38 AM, only 8 minutes from the 911 calls hitting the 911 Call Center to fire engines have water on the fire. Dothan Fire Engine Companies were quick on the scene and quick to get fire under control.
Dothan Fire Battalion Chief Ash requested a fire investigator respond to the fire.
04:54 AM Dothan Fire units returning to stations from the scene.
DALE COUNTY: About an hour ago Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum was caught red handed.
Sheriff Mason Bynum was caught red handed assisting a motorist by he, himself, getting out and changing a person’s tire for them on a Friday evening at about 5:30 PM.
Sheriff Bynum did not call for assistance or someone to change the motorist’s tire. He got out of his unmarked truck and changed the tire.
Service above self. Sheriff Bynum serves the citizens and guests well in Dale County. He also flew out earlier today to another state and interviewed someone on an investigation. The Sheriff himself along with investigators from Dale County Sheriff Department.
A WORKING SHERIFF dedicated to the service to others.
DALE COUNTY – HENRY COUNTY – ABBEVILLE : In a combined operation between Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum, Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship, Abbeville Police Chief Marlos Walker, and the men and women of all three departments, Henry County Alabama has a new resident.
The new resident selected the fine accommodations of Inn Keeper Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship at The Henry County Jail.
It is very rare that a scammer will travel and meet the individual. Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum and the men and women of Dale County Sheriff Department were able to get the scammer on the hook and scam the scammer. The case spilled over into Henry County and with no delays Henry County and Abbeville Police were on board assisting.
FUNNY – the scammer pulled up and parked directly behind Sheriff Blankenship. The foreign scammer did not realize it was an unmarked vehicle with the High Sheriff in it. Within a short few minutes the scammer was sandwiched between two sheriffs’ vehicles. Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum then pulled his unmarked vehicle behind him, pinning the criminal.
The FBI will be involved. But for now the scammer has accommodations in Henry County Jail.
COTTONWOOD: Last week RSN reported the Town of Cottonwood had cut the Cottonwood Police Department to a 40-hour work week. These were actions of the Mayor of Cottonwood and not voted on by the City Council members.
Some people question why the police drive the vehicle home when they do not reside in Cottonwood. This past Saturday morning, a little after 6 AM, a motor vehicle accident on Edwin Reynolds Road. Cottonwood Police Chief Tony Money went into service (that is, went on duty) and responded to the motor vehicle accident. THAT is why the police officers drive the vehicles home. People do not make appointments for wrecks, health issues, or to die. So the officers, when called by the 911 office, respond.
On Monday morning, Cottonwood Police Chief Tony Money was on patrol and working the school zone. When I carried my grandson to work, Chief Money was on multiple different traffic stops. WATCH your speed in school zones, and if you do not, watch your rear view mirror for blue lights.
COTTONWOOD RESCUE
On Sunday I visited Cottonwood Rescue. They have been doing a great job: answering their calls, improving the fleet of ambulances and improving the building. When I was over Cottonwood Rescue, we attempted to make some bedroom areas. Since Beau Deathridge has taken over; he remodeled the upstairs making separate bedrooms for the crews. Beau, in the construction work business, knows how to construct and install wiring. They made the old part a nice day room, with a place for washer and dryer. Beau has redesigned the ambulances, and they are looking sharp. Before I left, we had gotten a new ambulance, and it is in service with a new design that is clean and looks good.
Contrary to the comments of Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe, who has never asked me a question about Cottonwood Rescue, Cottonwood Rescue has never closed since 2017 when I took it over. There is no money missing. When I took it over it had less than $200. How does Brandon Shoupe think Cottonwood Rescue operated from 2017 until 2021, and beyond, when the $5 tag fee started? Brandon Shoupe doesn’t seem to have a clue. The tag money is not taxpayer money once it hits the EMS units. It is for services rendered. EMS is not a government entity. In fact, when the tornado struck, the Houston County Commission refused to allow EMS to fill up at the county yard when the gas stations had no power. They cared not how EMS go to you to save lives. We had to get a farmer to assist the EMS with fuel so Cottonwood Rescue to respond to attempt to help people.
Beau has the time to effectively manage Cottonwood Rescue, and they are doing a great job. I am proud of them. And I am glad that I was able to get legislation through the Alabama Legislature to help fund all of EMS in the county… something Brandon Shoupe was not able to do in his 8 years as a county commissioner or two years as Chairman. Did he care about lives?
COTTONWOOD VOLUNTEER FIRE – COTTONWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS
Destroyed in the tornado, Cottonwood Volunteer Fire has some of the building up to house some fire fighting equipment. Other buildings are underway.
The Cottonwood Senior Citizens Center is underway. Plans are being done and progress is being made to rebuild the senior center destroyed in the tornado.
HOUSTON COUNTY: 8:42 PM. . Houston County 911 dispatched a “man down” call on Houston County Road 33 and Hodgesville Road.
Responding to the scene, Hodgesville Volunteer Fire Department, Cottonwood Rescue, Houston County Sheriff Department, and ALEA – Troopers. Cottonwood Rescue mutual aid requested Dothan Fire Department to respond.
Multiple law enforcement officers are on the scene. The roadway is closed at this time. A investigation is underway. At this time it is unknown of a motor vehicle accident or a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle.
More details will follow later tonight or in the morning.
UPDATED ON SATURDAY AT 08:15 AM
This accident is under a combined investigation by ALEA Trooper Mosley and Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigation Division.
AT THIS TIME, a white male, 52 year old Scott Spivey, was found deceased on County Road 33 near the railraod tracks between Hodgesville Baptist Church and Hodgesville Road. Mr. Spivey received blunt force trauma and was pronounced dead on the scene by Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd.
Mr. Spivey’s vehicle, as RSN understands from the preliminary investigation, was parked west of Hodgesville Road intersection, in the ditch and in park.
No vehicle that apparently struck Mr. Spivey was present. So this could be a hit and run accident where the person who struck Mr. Spivey left the scene. Or this could be a foul play death. That is the reason for the two agency investigation.
If this is a hit and run accident, ALEA Troopers are the primary investigation agency. which at this time they are the primary investigation agency. If not a motor vehicle accident – pedestrican struck and a foul play death, then Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigation Division will then take the primary investigative agency.
A post mortem examination will be conducted by the Alabama Medical Examineer in Montgomery.
UPDATED @ 10:35 AM SATURDAY
This is NOT the Scott Spivey “currently” employed with law enforcement, in particular Dothan Police Department.
He was a former law enforcement officer but has not been in a number of years.
UPDATED MONDAY @ 06:50 AM
Today the body of Mr. Spivey will undergo a post mortem examination in Montgomery by the Medical Examineer for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
The scene investigation, Mr. Spivey died from blunt force trauma. The exact cause of the blunt force trauma is unknown. It could be from a severe fall or from a vehicle which struck him.
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION is that Mr. Spivey had left some friends house not long before the incident which caused his death. The truck he was traveling on was parked west of where the death occurred.
Law Enforcement Officers are awaiting the medical examination to help them in determination of what took place.
Both ALEA – Trooper Mosley and Houston County Sheriff Deputies are conducting investigations. Should it be a pedestrian struck by a vehicle the primary investigative agency is ALEA. Should if be foul play the primary investigative agency will be Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigative Unit. That is the reason for the joint investigation.
