The First Baptist Church Family Life Center at 300 West Main Street will open as a warming shelter on today at 6:00 p.m. It will remain open until Thursday, January 23, at noon.
Rose Hill Senior Center: Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Christian Mission in Enterprise will serve as a warming station. They are located at 231 Geneva Highway, Enterprise, AL 36330. The secondary location, should the Mission reach capacity, is First Methodist Enterprise, 217 Main St., Enterprise, AL 36330.
The Cottonwood Community Church, located at 1331 Metcalf Street, will be open as a warming station until Thursday, January 23, at 5 p.m., with this subject to change pending weather conditions.
The City of Taylor will provide a warming station Monday and Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. at the Taylor Senior Center at 1457 State Hwy 605.Wednesday is still to be determined.
HENRY COUNTY: This past Friday Henry County District Court Judge Derek Peterson performs one of his last official acts as Judge. Judge Peterson retired after 18 years as a Judge.
On Friday Judge Peterson administered the Oath of Office to Incoming Probate Judge/Commission Chairman Ray Marler. After serving 20 years as Mayor of Headland Ray Marler leaves Headland and takes over the duties as Judge and as Commission Chairman.
Judge Peterson administered the Oath of Office to incoming Henry County District Court Judge Spence Danzey. After serving as a Private Attorney with his office in Abbeville, residing in Headland and a Henry County native, also serving as Attorney for the City of Abbeville, City of Headland and Henry County. Danzey assumes the reigns as District Court Judge from Judge Derek Peterson.
Judge Peterson administered the Oath of Office to incoming Henry County Circuit Clerk Kim Roland. After serving many years as Chief Magistrate/Court Clerk for the City of Headland, Kim Roland assumes the duties as Circuit Court Clerk when Shirlene Vickers retired. Roland has many years court experience in Municipal Court. Serving as Circuit Clerk in Henry County, which is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, is an extreme task. You have less Grand Juries a year which means management of cases longer in District Court, all Circuit Judges offices are located in Houston County which makes exchanging documents slower, and managing different days for Circuit Court Judges. The District Court Judge, Spence Danzey, is the only full time judge in the Henry County Courthouse.
Kim Roland, while is an “elected official” as Circuit Clerk, being a Circuit Clerk if “not a position but a job”.
HOUSTON COUNTY: In Alabama some elected officials have six year terms and some four year terms. That places their elections the same time as a Presidential election and sometimes the same time as Governor elections.
This year the Probate Judge and Circuit Clerk’s elections were the same as the Presidential election. In Houston County, the Probate Judge and Commission Chairman are held by different people. In Henry County, the Probate Judge also serves as Commission Chairman.
This week Houston County Probate Judge Patrick Davenport was sworn into another term. Administering the Oath of Office is one of the last official acts of Henry County Probate Judge David Money.
During Patrick Davenport’s tenure he has digitized the recording of documents, made is remotely accessible, and streamlined the license plate and business license purchases. Take note driver license renewals can be done at the Probate Office. The office also handles mental commitment’s.
This week also Carla Woodall was sworn into another as Houston County Circuit Clerk. Administering the oath of Office was 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Chris Richardson. Carla Woodall begins her 4th tenure as Houston County Circuit Clerk which are 6 year terms. Carla Woodall served 15 years as a Court Reporter before she sought election as Circuit Clerk.
All Circuit Clerks, they are not “elected positions” but in reality they are “elected jobs”. Awesome responsibilities where the responsibility for 7 Judges, criminal, civil, juvenile, child supports cases. All records kept straight, accurate and corrects and the collections of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Schools have announced closures Tuesday and Wednesday due to the threat of winter weather. See the list below. We will update this list as more closures may be announced.
Dothan City Schools
Enterprise City Schools
Houston County Schools
Dale County Schools
Henry County Schools
Geneva County Schools
Geneva City Schools
Coffee County Schools
Okaloosa County Schools
Pike County Schools
Troy City Schools
Wallace Community College (Dothan/Eufaula)
Northside Methodist Academy
Providence Christian School
Houston Academy
Bethel Christian Academy
Westgate Christian School and Daycare
Midland City Childcare and Academy
Holmes County Schools
Eufaula City Schools
Covington County Schools
Opp Schools
Calvary Weekday and Preschool
Paul-a-Roos Daycare
Angel’s Child Care and Academy
Fortis College
On The Rise Academy
Kiddie Care Learning Center
Please email rickey@rickeystokesnews.com with school closure announcements to be added to this list.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to roll through the region in waves tonight and tomorrow morning, but some models are now trending upward for the chance of wintry precipitation Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.
Tuesday midday is expected to see snow into Wednesday night.
Freezing cold air will come before Monday morning, when temperatures could dip into the lower 20s and and wind chills in the teens. Daytime highs will struggle to get out of the 30s for many locations.
A warming shelter will open Sunday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center behind the main church building at 300 West Main Street. It will remain open until noon Jan. 23. Meals and cots will be provided. The doors will be locked at 9 p.m. each night.
Dothan recreation centers will be open until 6 p.m. You can call 211 for information on more warming shelters.
NOW is the time to plan and prepare for the coming week.
Ahead of cold weather, remember to prepare by protecting the 4 P’s: people, pets, pipes, and plants.
Have blankets and warm clothing ready. Make sure to dress children going to school this week in warm clothing. Check on neighbors who may not have good heating systems. If you use space heaters, plug them directly into a wall, not into an extension cord. Do not leave them on overnight.
Bring outdoor pets inside. You can also create shelters for outdoor pets.
Remember to drip faucets. Moving water helps protect pipes from freezing.
Bring plants which could be killed by low temperatures inside, or use tarps or another covering to protect plants which can’t be moved. Use extra mulch to protect the roots.
