Fire crews responded to a structure fire Thursday evening in the Onycha community that left a residence and two large storage buildings heavily damaged.
According to Opp Fire Department, units were dispatched at approximately 6:03 p.m. alongside Onycha Volunteer Fire Department to the intersection of County Road 32 and Cook Road.
On arrival, Onycha Engine 1, Onycha Truck 5, and Opp Car 1 found one residential structure and two large storage buildings fully involved in fire. Officials confirmed the occupants were out of the home and safely accounted for.
Onycha Tanker 1 and Opp Engine 7 assisted with fire suppression. Due to the extent of the fire and exposure concerns, additional mutual aid was requested, including Opp Engine 10, Kinston Engine 5, and Babbie Engine 4 and Attack 5. Crews were able to bring the fire under control, and no injuries were reported.
Additional agencies on scene included Covington County Sheriff’s Office, Haynes Ambulance, and Covington Electric Cooperative.
Officials are asking the community to keep the homeowner in their prayers as they recover from the loss.
My lifetime friend, Steve Clouse, turns 70 this week. He was born February 7, 1956. I hope his legislative colleagues and friends wish him a Happy Birthday. He truly is a good man.
Steve was born and raised in Ozark and has represented his home County of Dale as well as neighboring Houston County for 32 years – almost half of his life and well over 72% of his adult life. He was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1994 at age 38. He will be re-elected to his ninth, four-year term this year.
Steve Clouse is not only the Dean of the Wiregrass delegation in the House, he is the stalwart, respected leader and heart and soulof the Wiregrass delegation. Coincidentally, when Steve came to the House in 1994, he was the only Republican in the Wiregrass, House or Senate. Today, all Wiregrass Senators and House members are arch Republicans. The Wiregrass is one of the most Republican Regions of the State.
Steve is currently Chairman of the House Transportation Utilities and Infrastructure Committee. However, his most important leadership role was as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he wrote the General Fund Budget for over a decade.
Steve has always had a keen interest and knack for Alabama politics. He also has an astute marketing mind. When he first ran for the House, he coined the phrase, “Put Clouse in the House.” If he were to have an opponent, he could say, “Keep Clouse in the House.”He is truly a man of the House.
Steve is truly a man of Ozark, also. He is Ozark, through and through. His father, Jimmy Clouse, had deep roots in Dale County. Steve worked with his father in the oil distribution business until his Dad passed away a few years ago.
Steve has been a devout member of the First Methodist Church. He and his wife, Dianne, live right across the street from the Methodist Church. They don’t have far to go so it makes it hard for him to skip. He parks his white truck right out front of his antebellum style home, right on Main Street, which tells his constituents, “I’m at home, come see me with your problems.” Believe you me, small town legislators get more cries for help than you can imagine. Especially if you’re Steve Clouse, who knows most of his constituents personally. He has fixed many a Dale countian’s problems and potholes over the past four decades.
I often use the saying Alabama is a Big Front Porch. When it comes to me and Steve Clouse, that adage is definitely apropos.
I have never, not known Steve Clouse. We played together as little boys. Steve’s mama was Ruth Price. She grew up in Pike County. My mama, Gloria Grant Flowers and Ruth Price Clouse were like sisters all their lives. They were best friends as girls and teenagers and continued their friendship after Mrs. Ruth married Jimmy Clouse and moved to Ozark. Mama lived all her life in Troy. When Steve and I were little boys, our mamas would bring us to Troy and Ozark to play together. We became like brothers rather than friends. We are still more like brothers. I don’t think it is just a coincidence that we have the same first name. I also had a sister named Kay and he has a sister named Kay. We are pretty sure our mamas collaborated on that.
When it got time for Steve to go to college, he chose the University of Alabama where I was finishing up. He pledged the same fraternity that I and a good many Southeast Alabama boys were in, Sigma Nu.
Our legislative districts connected for the 16 years I was in the House. We had almost identical pro-business conservative voting records. People still, today, get us confused because we have similar names. He tells me that often in our almost weekly phone conversations. “Someone called me you the other day.” My response to him, “I’m sure you told them that you were a lot younger and better looking.”
Steve Clouse is one of the best men I’ve ever known. He epitomizes honesty and integrity. I cannot believe that my young friend and little brother is 70. Alabama is a Big Front Porch.
Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on drug charges following a traffic stop conducted during proactive patrol operations.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation while patrolling in Jackson County. During the stop, deputies observed a passenger attempting to conceal contraband inside the vehicle.
Deputies reported locating drug paraphernalia along with a magnetic container that held approximately 7.25 grams of methamphetamine.
As a result of the investigation, Thomas Wright was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The sheriff’s office also shared information for individuals seeking help with substance use. Outreach coordinators are available to connect people with resources and support. Ashley Sellers can be reached at 850-693-5021, and Stephanie Culbreath can be reached at 850-693-3242.
A Marianna man was arrested Thursday night after leading police on a vehicle pursuit followed by a brief foot chase, according to the Marianna Police Department.
Police said an officer attempted to stop a white Hyundai around 8:26 p.m. on Harrison Street near Old Cottondale Road due to equipment and registration violations. The driver refused to stop and fled, traveling through several residential streets, running multiple stop signs, and driving at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop in the 4000 block of Roulhac Street. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, attempting to enter a nearby residence before resisting arrest. Officers took the suspect into custody following a short foot pursuit.
Authorities identified the driver as Frank White Jr. During the arrest, officers discovered a concealed knife with an 8.25-inch blade on White. Police also recovered suspected narcotics that later tested presumptively positive for Alpha-PVP.
While White fled on foot, police said the unattended vehicle rolled into a nearby residence, causing minor property damage. No injuries were reported.
Investigators determined White is a convicted felon and was also driving with a suspended license at the time of the incident.
White was charged with aggravated fleeing or eluding law enforcement, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, driving while license suspended or revoked with knowledge, resisting arrest without violence, felon in possession of a concealed weapon, and possession of Alpha-PVP.
He was transported to the Jackson County Jail without further incident.
NO CHILDREN ON THE BUS – NO CHILDREN ON THE BUS – NO CHILDREN ON THE BUS – NO CHILDREN ON THE BUS
DOTHAN: 07:26 AM Dothan 911 dispatched a three vehicle accident on Prevatt Road which included a Dothan School Bus. The bus had just dropped off all children. No children were on the bus.
Dothan Police on the scene. Traffic is a issue so probably some children brought by parents will be delayed in getting children to school.
DOTHAN: This morning Dothan Commissioner of Disrtict 4, Dave Stock, spoke at the Dothan Commission Meeting about Blake Bowen. He was brutally murdered this past Friday when he was shot and killed during an armed robbery while GIVING a man a ride. The man was needing a ride from Trawick Road to Day Break Suites, which is a motel with an iron fence just past Fortner Street intersection at Ross Clark Circle.
Just before Fortner Street and Ross Clark Circle the man brandished a gun, shooting and killing 33 year old Blake Bowen, causing Blake to leave the road and go into a holding pond. The suspect fled and was apprehended by Dothan Police Department within a couple of hours withing a few blocks of the scene.
Dothan Police, through heavy police prescence on the streets in the area. by the WASP-Dothan Police Helicopter, that was brought into service by Dothan Police Chief Will Benny, by the drone units brought into service by Dothan Police Chief Will Benny, by the Dothan Police K-9 units on the ground, the suspect was held to a small area between Hartford Highway and Fortner Street. The supect looked west on Fortner Street from Stonewood to attempt to cross Fortner Street, and little did he know from the east direction traveling west was a Dothan Police Patrol Officer who quickly jumped from his patrol vehicle and took the suspect into custody.
While ALL CRIME and VICTIMS has bothered D4 Commissioner Dave Stock, this one especially hit home. A pilot who taught flying, Dave Stock met Blake Bowen about 5 years ago when Blake took flying lessons from Dave. As he taught Blake, he like many others who came in contact with Blake, immediately was drawn into a very respected friendship with Blake. So this hit D4 Commissioner Dave Stock hard. And the murder was of a personal friend, which also took place in the district that Dave Stock took Oath of Office some 3 months ago ( November 2025 ) to serve as a Commissioner.
So today, D4 Commissioner Dave Stock made comments that some, and perhaps a fellow Commissioner, has attempted to turn racial. Because D4 Commissioner Dave Stock used the word “ELEMENT” and held up the photograph of Blake Bowen. Some are saying that Stock was grandstanding and it was racial. HOW? D4 Commisioner Stock said “Blake and others” amd reference Houligan’s. D4 Stock said at his Twon Hall meeting he is making people aware of things whenhe speaks at the Commission Meetings. Not afraid of mentioning taboo items.
STOP THE CRAP – THAT WAS NOT TRUE AT ALL
ELEMENTS – I think an ELEMENT is a white male who is alleged to have killed his wife, then dumped her body off, under a bridge, in Geneva County. He had been on the same job for at least two decades. He has remained in jail. That ELEMENT is a white male.
ELEMENTS – I think an ELEMENT is aa black male who alleged to have killed a black male in Houligan’s parking lot over a car door bumping his car. The suspect had prior charges in Coffee County, incidentally for murder.
Some are saying the D4 Commissioner Dave Stock said no one deserves probation. LISTEN AGAIN. D4 Commissioner Dave Stock said “repeat offenders”. However, because Dr Dave Stock is a pilot and not raised in the criminal justice system, Alabama has a sentencing worksheet and the Alabama Legislature and Sentencing Commission have somewhat tied Judges hands. Like now to revoke Probation, they have to give DIPS AND DUNKS, and about 4 chances before revoking someone’s probation and sending someone to jail. SO WAIT, before people jump on Judges.
D4 Dave Stock praised law enforcement, Dothan Police Chief Will Benny and the men and women in law enforcement. He urged more support for law enforcement, the District Attorney and Judicial System. D4 Dave Stock said time to be proactive and not reactive.
WELL, here are some facts, that perhaps D4 Dave Stock was talking about: (1) You have to guess when, but Dothan Police Chief Will Benny and WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Program ) have a partnership in the Dothan Police Helicopter. A great support system that routinely flies over Dothan on routine patrol watching from the sky. And it was deployed Friday. But the aircraft is close to about a $ 100,000.00 expense to rebuild the engines. To valuable of a tool to not have and helped keep the area hot and the suspect contained Friday. A PROACTIVE TOOL. (2) The Houston – Henry County District Attorney has started a foundation for tax deductible donations. The state does not fully fund the District Attorney Office. A local benefactor has pledged several years of about $ 400,000.00 a year so the District Attorney can afford to hire qualified attorneys to prosecute cases. In Mobile Alabama, they have just committed or about to committ $ 3.3 million dollars to the Mobile County District Attorney to help Mobile County. And the Mayor of Mobile is a Dothan Alabama native!!! So perhaps D4 Commissioner Dave Stock was referring to that. Does Houston and Henry County, and all municipalities contained within need to step up to the plate to help fund the District Attroney Office for qualified people to prosecute?
NOW, one murder is to many. Other than pressure to keep ELEMENTS, regardless of race, under a firm grip, how could law enforcement predict what was going to happen Friday and prevent it? A Dothan Police car had rode through Houigan’s minutes before the firearm assault, and was on the scene within 2 minutes of the call being dispatched because I was listening. How could that firearm assault be prevented? The murder last year where the man is alleged to have killed his wife in their home and then dumped the body in Geneva County under a bridge, how could law enforcement have prevented that muder? How could law enforcement have prevented the four persons charged with murder in Cowarts who are alleged to have fired through the windown and killed the man?
NOW, there are some saying Dothan and Houston County has gotten bad. That Judges are not strict on crime. Some officials have threatened the Judges in the Houston County Courthouse about the jail being 100 or more over capacity and attempted to blackmale the Judges into letting people out of the jail. NOT THE SHERIFF, but another official. Accusing the Judges of not working based on key fobs into the courthouse. Not realizing the Judges cover Houston and Henry County, and can work from whereever they are. And that Judges are woke up in the middle of the might to sign search warrants. One Judge was woke up almost every hour from midnight to 5 AM to sign search warrants on a hot investigation that was being conducted by law enforcement. How dare someone try and blackmail the Judges. When they hear a case, the Judge has to review the evidence, craft orders that affect people’s lives in domestic cases, civil cases, criminal cases, review reports. Often times it is more productive to do that from home then interruptions in the office when attempting to study evidence, be fair and lawful in their rulings and read reports. That official had no clue what he was talking about, which is normal. And it was not and Dothan Commissioner, BTW.
Dothan Police and Houston County Sheriff have done a great job in serving and protecting. Actual murders are down from what they were. Cases are solved. And quickly. A firm grip has been placed on ELEMENTS that cause issues. And those elements are all colors. So when people make reference to “Little Chicago”, fact check me and see if I am not right.
OK, to the fellow Dothan Commissioner trying to get crap started concerning D4 Dave Stock comments, as I have heard. KEEP ON. Because I WILL CALL YOU OUT.
