County Conversation scheduled for tonight postponed
The County Conversations event scheduled for tonight at Walton Park is postponed until a later date — a new date hasn’t yet been set, but the reschedule will be announced as soon as it’s decided.
Judge dismisses lawsuit against Dothan police
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against two Dothan Police officers who briefly detained an independent journalist for filming inside a state building.
George Metz II filed suit in 2021, saying Officers D. Bridges and J. Dodson violated his rights and illegally detained him after he was filming inside the lobby of the Department of Human Resources in Dothan.
Metz claimed his rights were violated when the officers demanded his ID, handcuffed him and searched him.
Court documents revealed Metz had been asked to leave the building multiple times. He and another person with him were detained for about an hour but not arrested or charged with any crimes.
The officers believed Metz was trespassing, according to court documents.
Alabama is also a “stop and identify” state, meaning police are allowed to stop and request information from people in public places whom officers reasonably suspect of committing a crime.
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama originally ruled the officers could be held personally liable for their actions, but that motion was reversed by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chief United States District Judge Emily Marks ruled in favor of the officers and the City of Dothan, also named in the lawsuit, thus closing the case.
09:22 AM Rehobeth ROTC Instructor Placed On Administrative Leave Pending Investigation
REHOBETH: Allegations against a ROTC Instructor have surfaced at Rehobeth High School.
The ROTC Instructor has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the investigation.
The School and Houston County School Superintendent, Brandy White, cannot speak about personnel matters. There are legal steps which must be taken. The first is placing the faculty member on Administrative Leave pending the investigation when serious allegations are made. Following the investigation the Superintendent may take action which could include termination. Once the action is taken the employee has 15 days to request a hearing, and the hearing is normally held within 30 days.
RSN has learned the allegations are serious. These are independent allegations we have learned, not from “official sources.” The first allegation is the ROTC Instructor encouraged a female student to seek emancipation from her father in order for the ROTC Instructor to adopt the female student.
When a employee is placed on Administrative Leave they are not to have any contact with any students. RSN has learned there are allegations the ROTC Instructor has continued to attempt to contact the female student. In addition, RSN has been told the ROTC Instructor has alleged to have contacted or attempted to contact other students, apparently soliciting their support if the Superintendent recommends termination from Houston County Schools.
The Superintendent and school officials were very firm they cannot discuss personnel matters. In fact, we have learned over time the School Board acts as a jury when a decision is appealed. Therefore, the investigation and decision are up to the Superintendent and presented to the Board when appealed.
Again, we have described allegations made to RSN concerning this particular ROTC Instructor. These are very serious allegations and if they are in fact true, the consequences could be serious.
While the school officials cannot confirm, RSN has researched the matter and felt these were serious. And if in fact the allegations are true, this ROTC Instructor has continued to contact other students, RSN would encourage parents to talk to their children, and if contact has been made, the Superintendent or Sheriff’s School Resource Deputy should be notified. (Not saying law enforcement is involved at this point).
It appears once these allegations surfaced, Houston County Schools Superintendent Brandy White wasted no time in placing the ROTC Instructor on Administrative Leave and launching an investigation.
As RSN learns more we will update.
12:01 PM Interesting Inside Look Iinto The Busiest Airport In The World – Atlanta
ATLANTA: The World’s Busiest Airport – Hartfield – Jackson Atlanta Airport, a inside look.
The airport sits on 5,000 acres, employees 63,000 people, 2 million passengers a week, 2,700 flights landing/taling off a day. The Atlanta airport moves 14.9 million bags a year, has 23 miles of underground jet fuel pipes across the airport to keep the jets fueled. The Atlanmta airport moves 104 million passengers a day.
A complete underground baggage system to make sure luggages go with the flights. Air traffic controllers controlllinh 5 landing / departure strips. The Atlanta airport is home to Delta Airlines.
This video is one hour and six minutes long. But it takes an indepth look into a organized machine, the airport, how they operate to move people and flights on time.
Feb. 6: State of the City/County at the Chamber of Commerce
The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a discussion on the state of the city and the county, with Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe.
The event is Feb. 6 at 7:20 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, at 102 Jamestown Blvd. in Dothan.
Individual session tickets are $60. Contact Alicia Etheredge at aetheredge@dothan.com or 334-792-5138 to purchase tickets.
Man charged with murder of former Headland basketball coach
A man has been charged with murder in the death of a former Headland basketball coach.
Iquane Brown, 30, faces a murder charge, but also charges of assault, armed robbery, hijacking a vehicle, kidnapping, using a firearm while committing a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Sammy Jackson, a former Headland basketball coach, was found dead in Atlanta on January 27 after being reported missing.
Atlanta Police say Brown was the last person to order a ride from Jackson in Houston County, Georgia, before he went missing.
Jackson was a part-time Uber driver. His car was found abandoned and rifled through Monday in Bonaire, Georgia. His wife had spoken to him Sunday, but she got a message from Jackson’s phone early Monday morning asking what his social security number was.
Jackson played basketball for and graduated from Headland High School in 1982 before coaching at the school in 2020 and 2021.
Brown is being held in the county jail in Houston County, Georgia.