At 716 PM EDT/616 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from near Columbia to near
Graceville. Movement was east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Colquitt, Cottonwood, Graceville, Dothan, Blakely, Donalsonville,
Taylor, Kinsey, Ashford, Slocomb, Cowarts, Webb, Columbia,
Douglasville, Centerville, Malone, Malvern, Rehobeth, Avon, and
Madrid.
INSTRUCTIONS:
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
GENEVA: Lasat evening Geneva County 911 dispatched officers to Regency Inn to a firearm assault. The gunshot victim had driven himself to Wiregrass Hospital.
Geneva Police and Geneva County Sheriff Department wrapped up the Regency Inn, Geneva and began a through investigation. A suspect and vehicle was quickly identified and BOLO issued.
As Geneva Police Chief Pepper Mock and officers got into the investigation a mutual aid rerquest was made to Houston County Sheriff Department Special Response Team. The assistance was in executing a search warrant on a residence connected to the suspect in Hartford.
Around 2:00 AM the Houston County Sheriff SRT and Geneva Police hit a residence in the 300 block of North 4th Avenue in Hartford. Without resistence, the law enforcement officers took Dewayne Wyatt Childers into custody. Geneva Police has booked Childers into the Geneva County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
The investigation continues. Several firearms were taken from the residence where Childers was arrested. He is currently in the Geneva COunty Jail under a no bond.
Geneva Police is the lead agency in charge of the investigation.
A search of the Alabama District and Circuit courts across Alabama only show a 2024 traffic citation for falure to wear safety belt on Childers. There are no other arrests reflected in District or Circuit court records.
GENEVA – COFFEE COUNTY: On July 9, 2026, following an accident investigation on Alabama Highway 87 ( Tom Fain Road ) in Geneva County, Enterprise High School Head Coach Marty Christopher Lovrich, was arrested for DUI. The traffic citation/arrest was listed at 2:48 AM. The arrest was made by ALEA Trooper Redman following a traffic accident in Geneva County.
According to Geneva County Circuit Clerk of Court records, Lovrich BAC was listed at .13. ( Geneva County Court Case Number 34-TR-2026-1456 ). In Alabama .08 is considered DUI. Lovrich was released from Geneva County Jail after posting a $ 500 cash bond. Court date before Geneva County Judge Stephen Smith is set for September 1, 2026. In addition to the DUI citation, ALEA Trooper Redmond served Lovrich with a notice his driver license will be suspended in 45 days of July 9, 2026.
According to Coffee County Circuit Court Records – Enterprise Division, Marty Christoper Lovrich was arrested on January 30, 2025 by ALEA Trooper Enfinger in Coffee County for DUI. ( Coffee County District Court Case Numer 71-TR 2025-317 ) According to Coffee County Circuit Clerk records, Lovrich BAC was listed as .10. In Alabama .08 is considered DUI.
ALEA Trooper Enfinger also charged Lovrich with Open Container ( Coffee County Court Case Number 71-TR 2025-318 ), Improper Lights ( Coffee County Court Case Number 71-TR 2025-319 ) , and No/Improper Tag Light ( Coffee County Court Case Number 71 TR 2025-320 ). Lovrich was relased from Coffee County Jail on a $ 1,500.00 bond.
The case was assigned to Coffee County District Court Judge Joshua Wilson. On February 5, 2025 Defense Attorney Paul Young entered his appearance for Lorich in Coffee County District Court. A court date was set on February 25, 2025.
On February 25, 2025 and orders entered February 26, 2025, the DUI in Coffee County was dismissed with conditions and a payment of $ 206.00; Open Container was dismissed under same orders with payment of $ 29.00; Improper Lights a guilty plea with payment of $ 226.00; No/ Imp Light a court payment of $ 226.00. Court records do not reflect ALEA Trooper Enfinger subpeoned for court.
The principal of Enterprise High School has referred questions to the Superintendent of schools.
ARITON – DALE COUNTY: 3:42 PM Ozark – Dale County 911 dispatched a motor vehicle accident at Dale County Road 11 and Highway 231 North. Nine Minutes later Ozark – Dale County 911 changed to call to a gunshot wound tot he head in a black Avalanche.
Arition Volunteer Rescue and Dale County Sheriff Deputies, to include Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum rolled to the scene. Ozark – Dale County 911 placed Suruvual Flight in the air towards the scene. The location was changed to Dale County Road 11 just off Dale COunty Road 51.
The area was sealed off. Deputies were dispatched to Dale Medical Center where the gunshot victim was transported to.
Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum, Dale County Sheriff Criminal Investigation Division and Dale County Sheriff Deputies are conducting an investigation.
Anyone with information contact Dale County Sheriff Department at 334-774-2335.
UPDATED @ 7:53 PM
The firearm assault was transferred to Southeast Health.
This is a possible road rage where a suspect is alleged to have got out and shot a person in the head three times.
We can never thank our First Responders enough for all they do. Robert Byrd and staff invite First Responders to stop by on Friday and grab a BBQ lunch compliments of Sunset. Just bring your badge or ID to Sunset Memorial Park between 10:30-2 July 10!
HOUSTON COUNTY: On June 30th Houston County Sheriff Department lost part of the main glue that has held the Sheriff Department together.
After about 37 years of wearing a badge and gun, serving with various agencies in the wiregrass, Houston County Sheriff Major Bill Rafferty has officially retired.
When retired Alabama Senator Harri Anne Smith served as Mayor of Slocomb, Bill Rafferty was who she hired as Police Chief in Slocomb.
Having rising in rank with Houston County Sheriff Department, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza made a wise choice in placing Bill Rafferty as the financial comptroller of the department. During Sheriff Valenza’s term, Major Bill Rafferty has managed the funds of the department that allowed the department to purchase items the Houston County Commission refused to purchase. You would be surprised how many vehicles the Sheriff Department has purchased that the commission refused to.
Many times during the tenure of Major Bill Rafferty would say NO, when deputies came to him wanting to purchase items. Major Rafferty would not let deputies purchase three pair of pants and would only allow two pair of pants. Yes, not major purchases but little purchases eats up the money slowly.
Not sure Major Rafferty did what he said. He was going to Gordon on the river bridge and slinging that cell phone over the bridge, returning to the office, paying the Sheriff for the phone and having his wife pick him up. Not sure the phone went swimming but after 37 years of being glued to the phone, I feel his pain and desire to get rid of it.
Major Rafferty wants to spend time with his wife and grandchildren, fish, be involved more with his church, and enjoy life.
THANK YOU MAJOR RAFFERTY for having the financial stability of the Sheriff Department with you and Sheriff Donald Valenza. THANK YOU for your years of dedicated service in law enforcement.
