DOTHAN: 06:45 AM Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Fire Engine Company 1 ( Central ), NON EMERGENCY, to North Alice and Whiddon Street. A school bus accident with two juveniles on the bus.
The accident is dispatched as NO INJURIES. Dothan Fire Engine Company 1 was dispatched, again NON EMErGENCY, as a patient check only.
HOUSTON COUNTY: On Thursday evening Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, Chief Deputy Jeff Carlisle, Major Bill Rafferty, and the Captains of the Sheriff Department recognized the men and women of the Sheriff Department and some community partners.
The event was held in the beautiful event venue, THE FORUM. Dothan Commissioner and Mrs. Dave Stock, along with several sponsors, funded the event. The event recognized the sworn law enforcement officers, the corrrections officers, civilian members of the department, along with life saving awards within the department and outside the department. A delicious meal was served by Kelli Woodham ( do not know the name of the business ). A very organzied serving that got people through the line quickly.
RSN will print of list of each person recogonized and the award presented. The picture video represented most everyone who was presented awards.
Some awards included, Lt. Bobby Hopkins – he was off duty at Wiregrass Commons Mall when gunshots rang out. Lt. Hopkins ran towards the gunfire in the Mall when there was a shoot out. Several deputies, a civilian nurse, and Rehobeth Fire Chief were recognized and presented awards on their quick water entry and rescue of a man who his vehicle flipped into a creek on Highway 231 South. The combined forces entered the water, quickly removing the accident victim and initiating life saving measures. This is just an example of some of the many people recognized last evening.
Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza hopes to turn the event into an annual one. Sheriff Valenza has stated the success of the agency is only because of the men and women within the agency. As Sheriff, he just leads the department, it is the members of the department which are the boots on the ground. And those boots range from the law enforcement officers, communications staff, corrections staff, clerical staff, reserve Deputies, and everyone up and down the ladder of the department. Sheriff Valenza values everyone within the department and the contributions they make to serve and protect.
HOUSTON COUNTY: I AM CALLING THE HOUSTON COUNTY COMMISSION OUT !!!! A new Houston County Jail is NOT NEEDED!!!
Let me explain, I started in 1977 in what is the OLD, OLD Houston County Jail. Was working at the Houston County Sheriff when the first new county jail was constructed under then Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark. It sits on North Oates Street. And fimiliar with the currect Houston County Jail located at 901 East Main Street.
When I began, the cook, Mayo, was in jail for murder. He had every knife and fork in the jail. Now, I realize times have changed. But I would dare say, 60% of the current inmates in the Houston County Jail could fall into a work camp/barricks style facility. Install a fence around the building with a second fence and K-9’s in between the fences to make sure no one escapes. But I would dare say 60% of the current inmates could fall into a barrick style facility. There are a lot of inmates in what is called a day room now, sleeping on cots on the floor. If a inmate becomes a problem, there is enough current lock up space to move them from the barrick style facility into a lock up cell.
There is no need to spend $ 45 million dollars on a new jail. NO NEED AT ALL.
I mentioned it to a County Commissioner. His question was where else do they do that? My response was, in Arizona the Sheriff had inmates in tents. But have you ever thought about being a leader and a innovator rather than a follower?
Some may disagree. And the idea is not soft on crime. But I am being a realist. The majority of the people in the jail do not have to be locked in individual cells. They would still be in jail. Afraid to try the fence because of the four legged deputies patrolling the fence. And not going up in taxes in order to pay for the jail.
HERE IS TWO WAYS TO PAY FOR IT (1) Move the voting machines to the large metal building at the Farm Center, or store them in the large room at the Farm Center in the newly renovated Sanitation Collection metal building. That would save the taxpayers $ 40,000.00 to $ 45,000.00. (2) Move Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management from the current 911 Center. The day to day operation of Emergency Management does not have to be in a harden structure. When a tornado or hurricane is forcast they could go back to the 911 building. Currently Houston County is paying aorund $ 130,000.00 to house EMA in the 911 Center. Combined, that would be $ 170,000.00 plus just in those two moves.
BE A INNOVATOR.
BELOW ARE THE REVOATIONS TO SANITATION COLLECTIONS AT FARM CENTER
This last picture is room that voting machines can be stored in.
WASHINGTON COUNTY FL: This morning on I-10 in Washington County Florida. UNCONFIRMED reports, a vehicle was traveling the wrong way on I-10. That resulted in a vehicle crash with a traffic fatality. At this time o more details are known.
DOTHAN: Today 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Chris Richardson ruled in favor of the local congregation, Harvest Church.
In a lawsuit filed by Harvest Church, located on Fortner Street outside Ross Clark Circle, against the Alabama West Florida Conference of United Methodist, Circuit Court Judge Chris Richardson has ruled the church property belongs to Harvest Church. The local congregation who, through sweat and sacrifice, purchased, constructed, occupied and maintained the current church property.
Many former Methodist Churches have broken from the Methodist doctrine. When Harvest attempted to break, the franchise organization attempted to say the property belonged to the corporate franchise United Methodist Conference. While they did place some seed money, it was the local people who were responsible for the development and growth of Harvest Church.
What began at Honeysuckle Middle School in 1977, initially met for worship, grew and located around the corner from Honeysuckle School to what is now Harvest Church. The highly respected Ralph Sigler, who is the founding lead Pastor and lead Pastor of Harvest Church. The former United Methoist Church had been involved in a legal dispute since 2022 to seperate from the Alabama-West Florida Conference over theological differences. Particularly regarding denominations rules.
The 1,600 member church is now a Independent/Non Denominational evangelical church. The church holds more conservative views then the UMC conference they left.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Many of the schools have golf teams. And those golf teams were at Highland Oaks playing nine ( 9 ) holes on Tuesday.
Our grandson, Brantley, is a member of the Cottonwood High School Golf Team. Our son, Spencer, got Brantley involved in golf. From there we got Ryan Benton, a golf pro, to work with Brantley. The golf pro works with Brantley every two weeks teaching him the right way to play and working with him on his weak areas.
Highland Oaks was buzzing with young plazers. Some practicing on the putting range, some on the driving range. All were getting ready for the 12 PM tee off for nine holes.
A great sport for the young people. With awesome coaches working with the school players. Very patient and genuine interest. And there were a lot of school players participating.
They have played Dothan National, Headland Golf Course, Enterprise and The Highlands.
