HOUSTON COUNTY: The advertising for “School of Choice”. While it appears everyone can decide on your “School of Choice”, it is actually a two way street. The schools are not required to take every child in the School of Choice.
The school systems evaluate the students academics, attendance record, disciplinary records and other criteria. They schools do not want to inherit students that are a disruption to education, but want students with a desire for an education.
Today Houston County School Board and Houston County School Superintendent Brandy White issued a press release the Houston County School system has LIMITED tuition enrollment as the Houston County School system is a qualified CHOOSE ACT provider.
The press release emphasizes there are established guidelines for student acceptance. And acceptance will be based on availability for additional students and based on optimal class sizes.
The enrollment is for the 2026-2027 school year.
Houston County School System was selected as the number one county system in the State of Alabama. There are 67 county systems in Alabama. Houston County School system rank 62 in the funding, but number 1 in the entire State of Alabama.
DOTHAN: On March 1, 2021, William ( Will ) E. Benny took the Oath of Office for Dothan Police Chief from Alabama Associate Supreme Court Justice Brad Mendheim. Following the Oath of Office, Chief Benny laid out clear expectations of the Dothan Police Department, someof which was treating citizens with respect and being honest.
Chief Benny is not a “look what I have done” person. As Chief, he strives to give the men and women of Dothan Police Department the tools and training to do their job. Then he backs out of the way and allows them to do their job. Chief Benny hates when the focus is on him and what he is doing, but wants the focus on the performance of the police department.
Early on in his administration Chief Benny created a huge partnership with the WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Program ). In a recent murder case the Dothan Police aircraft, equipped with modern technology, and the ground units of Dothan Police Department, kept the scene area hot and the suspect confined in a small area. The suspect was apprehended 1 mile from the crime scene. That vision has allowed eyes in the sky for chases, watching officers, and patrolling around Dothan, being proactive in crime prevention, detection and apprehension.
Recently Chief Benny initiated a partnership with Axon. Now Dothan Police Officer and Patrol vehicles are equiped with the latest body worn and in car camera systems on the market. The system activates officers cameras within close distance of each other and the patrol cars. All angles of intereaction are now captured on video and audio.
While retired Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish laid ground work for the construction of the Wiregrass Training Center, it has allowed Chief Benny to grow that facility. Chief Benny was able to get a police academy at the Wiregrass Training Center. Now Dothan amd area agencies are trained here in Dothan with a State Certified Police Academy. There is an ever on-going training for the law enforcement officers at the Wiregrass Training Center. Working daily to keep officers trained and certified in all areas of law enforcement.
Chief Benny is working on a real time crime center. The center is expected to be operatonal in the immediate future. It will allow Dothan Police Department to be on top of crime before and immediate after it has occured. Being on top of the latest technology available and helping quickly identify suspects. A lot of technology that has been implemented will not be identified. But some technology in the department that has been implemented is when something has happened, tehn implementing safety devices so it will not happen again.
The recent Mardi Gras Parade, the attendees felt safe with law enforcement prescence on land and in the air. Some the attendees saw teh prescence of officers and some officers they did not see, as Dothan Police Officers were staged to make sure it was a safe event. A lot of detailed planning by Chief Benny and staff goes into making sure all systems are go.
Chief Benny has worked hard to bring law enforcement officers pay up to where they can live. With the support of the City Manager, Mayor and members of the Dothan Commission, Chief Benny has brought the Dothan Police Department to a larger number and longer retention of officers.
Congratulations to Dothan Police Chief Will Benny has he begins another year as Dothan’s Top Cop.
ARITON-DALE COUNTY: 09:47 AM Ozark-Dale County 911 has dispatched Ariton Fire-Rescue, Dale County Sheriff Deputies and ALEA-Troopers to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
The accident location is 1600 E. Main Street in Ariton.
Reports to Ozark-Dale County 911, a motor vehicle accident with injuries, vehicle verses tree, injuries, no reported entrappment.
Emergency Responders have requested Survival Flight be launched. Surivial Flight has accepted the mission. An estimated flight time to the scene is 18 minutes. A landing zone has been established at Portwood Circle.
Anyone with additional information or scene pictures, TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729.
WICKSBURG-HOUSTON COUNTY: 1:42 PM Volunteer members of Wicksburg Fire-Rescue are at the station preparing about 140 gallons of brunswick stew.
And it looks GOOOOOOD!!!!
At 3:00 PM the brunswick stew will be ready for the customers.
The price is $ 13 for a quart, $ 25 for two quarts. You pickup at the Wicksburg Fire-Rescue station located at 5340 Judge Logue Road, Newton ( Houston County). At 5 points below Goodwater Baptist Church.
Wicksburg Fire-Rescue is a non profit entity. Men and women donate their time and energies to provide this community with EMS protection and fire protecton. While there is some funding, it in no way covers all of the costs of operation of the department. So the fund raisers is how they are able to provide coverage, and quality, trained people to provide life saving in EMS and fire coverage.
Come out and support this fine group of volunteer men and women with some GREAT BRUNSWICK STEW.
