Mar. 28, 2025: Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT) has been awarded a grant of $56,300 from the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) in support of a new design project for a dedicated facility that will increase mission-driven theatre programming and community access to the arts. The project marks the beginning of a much-anticipated move to build independently operated and purpose-built facilities where the organization can respond more flexibly to community needs.
The grant award will help fund a design contract with Gosselin Architecture in preparation to renovate space purchased by SEACT in 2018, located at 251 S. Foster Street in downtown Dothan. SEACT’s Long-Range Planning Committee imagines the 7,000 square feet to include an education space for classes and workshops, and a 200-seat rehearsal hall that could also function as a secondary performance venue. SEACT expects to activate the space by summer, 2027. The facility may evolve to become a satellite location to a larger performing arts complex associated with Dothan’s city center block project.
As early as 2017, one of SEACT’s strategic priorities was identifying a future location for its operations. SEACT has consistently been the largest and most active tenant at the Cultural Arts Center, requiring the use of multiple shared performance and rehearsal spaces and classrooms.
“SEACT owes much to the City of Dothan and Cultural Arts Center (CAC) for providing an incubator space, allowing us to gain organizational capacity. The CAC gave us an affordable home, and during these 25 years, SEACT has been able to evolve from a hobby organization to one that focuses on community participation and education, and that now offers a diverse set of theatre-related projects and content,” said Executive Director Jennifer Doherty.
SEACT had already expanded its rehearsal space in 2021 with the purchase of 285 S. Foster Street, the former Greyhound bus station. Doherty explains, “Our youth programming exploded between 2017 and 2020. We didn’t want to choose between expanding the season of onstage productions or expanding a youth-oriented education program. Offloading some of this activity to the bus station allowed us to do both, building a dynamic educational program that continues to grow.”
A small group of Dothan citizens launched SEACT in 1974, hosting three community productions per year. In the 2023/2024 season, SEACT offered 11 mainstage and student productions, led 26 educational classes and workshops in acting, choreography, and voice, hosted 11 schools and independent drama groups competing at its TheatreFest, and sponsored student field trips to the National Performing Arts Festival and Alabama Shakespeare Festival. SEACT offers free admission to designated youth and family services organizations, and loans costumes, sets, and prop items to schools and other non-profits.
Between the CAC, the bus station, and other local performance venues, SEACT is active more than 300 days per year. Doherty adds, “On any given day, SEACT is hosting a rehearsal, performance, workshop, festival, community meeting, or after-school class, and frequently two to three activities at a time between the hours of 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekends. We are grateful for this opportunity to keep going and keep growing.”
Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT) has a mission to enrich the cultural lives of Wiregrass residents through the presentation of high-quality theatre, to provide creative opportunities to talented individuals to perform on stage and behind the scenes, and to introduce the theatrical experience to school-aged children. SEACT has a 50-year history in the company of thousands of community theatres that involve more participants, present more performances of more productions, and perform for more people than any other performing art in the country. The SEACT season is made possible by generous support from members, sponsors, and personal and corporate contributions. To learn more about SEACT, call 334-794-0400, email seact@seact.com, or visit www.seact.com.
Southeast Health is pleased to announce Jordan Condrey, RN, has been named nursing director of 2 East, along with Ben Ryals, MBA, RN, being named nursing director of 7 East.
Jordan most recently served as nursing manager of 3 East, which includes cardiology, medical surgery and telemetry. She began her career at the Medical Center in 2016 as a nurse on 2 East before leaving for a brief time to take a clinical manager position in Panama City, Florida. Jordan said after realizing there was no place like home, she returned to the Medical Center in 2022.
Jordan, a Blakely, Georgia native, received her Associate of Nursing degree from Wallace Community College in Dothan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
When not taking care of patients and staff, Jordan enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children.
Ben, a board certified emergency nurse, began his career at Southeast Health Medical Center almost 20 years ago. He most recently served as the clinical manager of the Emergency Department. He has also served as clinical supervisor and charge nurse in the Emergency Department. In addition, he has been a night call nurse for a cardiology group.
Ben received his Associate of Science degree from Enterprise State Junior College in Enterprise. He completed his Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Alabama. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. He obtained his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Alabama in Florence.
Ben and his wife have three children. In his spare time they enjoy spending time with family, watching Alabama athletics, and they are active members of Covenant Methodist Church.
Warm, wet morning will lead into rainy, maybe stormy Monday afternoon.
Clouds and light misting moisture started the week in south Alabama. Drizzling rains of the morning will give way to a wetter afternoon. A line of storms battering south Mississippi just after daybreak will crash across the Wiregrass after lunch. Those morning storms to our west set off severe weather warnings, so its possible some of the storms this afternoon and early evening could get kinda bumpy. Warm temperatures could fuel heavier rains.
The heaviest rains will make it into Dothan by mid afternoon, but the Troy, Ozark and Enterprise areas may see a line of storms blow in by noontime.
Morning low temperatures only dropped to just below 70 degrees Monday and it looks like Winter is in the rearview mirror.
Highs all week long will be in upper 80s. We may not hit 90 degrees, but by late week look for several days to have warm Spring temps in the area.
With all the building warmth and moisture look for clouds to stick thru Monday night and into Tuesday. There should be some clearing by then, but each day this week starts with clouds and fog and then clouds should burn off by afternoons.
GORDON – HOUSTON COUNTY AL: 1:31 PM Houston County 911 dispatched Gordon Police, Gordon Volunteer Fire, Pansey Volunteer Fire Department, Ashford Rescue, and ALEA – Troopers to a motor vehicle accident with injuries. The accident location is at 3941 North County Road 95.
A one vehicle accident, overturned, with ejection.
On arrival of emergency units they found one patient with a broken femur and other injuries. A second passenger, reported to have been a 13-year-old fled into the woods. The emergency units believe the 13-year-old has extensive injuries.
A drone has been deployed. No K-9 track dogs are in service. It has been recommended to request Jackson County Sheriff K-9 which has a beagle K-9 unit which is excellent in tracking. Dothan Police WASP (Wiregrass Aviation Support Unit) has been requested for air surveillance to attempt to locate the injured.
ALEA – Troopers are in charge of the accident investigation. Dothan Police Department DRONE TEAM is on the scene.
UPDATED @ 5:20 PM
Jackson County Sheriff K-9 Beagle track unit is responding to the scene to begin a ground track for the person who fled and possibly injured.
UPDATED @ 8:35 PM
A little before 6:22 PM a 14-year-old was located on Highway 95 near Ed Tolar Road. The scared young 14 year old told authorities after being ejected and he woke up that he was scared and went into the woods. He later heard the WASP (Wiregrass Aviation Support Program) helicopter and the Jackson County Sheriff K-9 Track Beagles and proceeded out of the woods.
Ashford Rescue was called to the scene and checked the patient out. He was transported by Ashford Rescue to a Dothan hospital.
Jackson County Florida Sheriff Donnie Edenfield himself responded to assist the Jackson County Sheriff K-9 Track Team, Jackson County Sheriff Patrol Shift Supervisor Lt. Eddie Ingram was on the scene, several other ranking Jackson County Sheriff Deputies and K-9 Officers, Columbia Police Chief, Gordon Police Chief and Officer were on the scene. ALEA – Trooper Mosley was the primary investigating Trooper and ALEA Post Commander Sgt. Jason McAllister were on the scene.
There were no Houston County Sheriff Deputies on the scene at all. There was one who responded after the wreck was dispatched but left and no Houston County Sheriff Deputy ever returned. All other officers were concerned because reports were the person who left was injured and appeared young. And he was, 14 years of age.
ALEA – Troopers contacted Houston County Sheriff Deputies after the 1:31 PM accident when they learned one patient, a juvenile fled. The apparent driver had an apparent broken femur and reports his leg was wrapped behind him. When Houston County was contacted there was one who fled and requested a drone law enforcement on the scene was advised there was no one available for a drone team. Later Houston County was notified about air support and the Houston County Sheriff Department is reported to have said you have one person and a helicopter was not needed. Then Houston County Sheriff Department was contacted and a K-9 track team was requested and was advised there was not a K-9 track team available.
When ALEA Troopers went through the protocol for a track team and was notified none were available, ALEA – Troopers requested Jackson County Florida Sheriff Department K-9 Track Team of beagles. They were dispatched at once and even Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield responded.
A successful mission in locating the 14 year old scared young man who was injured. He was transported by Ashford Rescue a Dothan hospital.
THANKS to ALEA Troopers, Gordon Police, Columbia Police, Jackson County Sheriff Department, Gordon Volunteer Fire Department, Pansey Volunteer Fire Department for their devoted work in locating this 14 year old child who was injured in the accident. Thanks to Dothan Police Chief Will Benny for dispatching the drones and WASP.
On Friday March 28, McElhenny Construction will begin a lane shift to move
traffic along US-84 (W. Main Street) to allow for construction in the median on
the US-84 and John D. Odom Road Intersection Improvement project.
During this time, there will be temporary lane closures in the intersection.
Motorists should use caution and expect delays when traveling in and through
this area.
This project will improve the intersection operation by updating traffic signals
and adding pedestrian facilities. This project is scheduled to be completed in
Fall/Winter 2025.
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