Dothan Leisure Services has partnered with the Dothan Civitan Club to host a Spaghetti Fundraiser on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Doug Tew Therapeutic Recreation Center, located at 300 Garland Street.
The fundraiser will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with proceeds benefiting two signature events of the Dothan Leisure Services Therapeutics Program: Family Fun Day and the annual Fall Carnival. Both events are designed to celebrate inclusion and provide meaningful, joyful experiences for individuals with special needs and their families.
Plates are $10 each and include spaghetti with meat sauce, bread, and a brownie. Guests may choose to dine in or take advantage of convenient carry-out options. Delivery is available within Dothan city limits for orders of 20 plates or more.
For ticket information, contact Cathy Sizemore at 334-615-3720 or csizemore@dothan.org, or Maggie Nickoley at 334-477-0626 or margaret.nickoley@covan.com. For large orders and delivery arrangements, contact Angie Lowe at 334-797-6574 or alowe@dothan.org.
Community members are encouraged to support this fundraiser and help make these inclusive events possible for families across the Wiregrass.
Structure Fire on Freedom Drive Displaces Newton Family
Newton, AL — A structure fire occurred at a residence on Freedom Drive in Newton, Alabama, displacing a family that has lived in the home for several years.
According to officials, all occupants were able to evacuate safely. No injuries were reported. While everyone escaped unharmed, the fire resulted in the family losing all of their belongings.
The family is now seeking assistance from the community as they begin the process of recovery. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Clothing needs include:
Male
XXL shirts
Pants size 36–38
Shoe size 13
Male
Large shirts
Pants size 36×32
Shoe size 12
Female
Shirt size 3X
Pants size 2X
Shoe size 9
Community members willing to donate or offer support are encouraged to do so as the family works to rebuild after this devastating loss.
The City of Dothan has received a Gold Risk Management Award from the insurance divisions of the Alabama League of Municipalities, marking the city’s 15th consecutive year earning a statewide risk management honor, according to a press release.
The award is presented through insurance programs sponsored by the Alabama League of Municipalities, including the Municipal Workers’ Compensation Fund and the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation. Approximately 800 public entities across Alabama participate in one or both programs.
League officials established the Risk Management Award program in 2002 to recognize member cities and organizations that demonstrate effective risk management and loss control practices aimed at reducing claims and losses.
According to the release, Dothan’s ongoing efforts have helped minimize employee, property, and liability losses. Officials said those measures contribute to safer workplaces and a safer community overall, benefiting both city employees and residents.
GORDON-HOUSTON COUNTY: Could you go to your home today? Well Brandon, TWO THINGS:
(1) Tonight, the Gordon Volunteer Fire Chief had to drive from Highway 95 South of Highway 84, to Highway 84, then travel west on Highway 84 East to Houston County Road 81, then east to Highway 95, then south to Tifton Road, then south to Gordon Volunteer Fire Station to get the fire truck to respond to a structure fire on Fire Department Road in Lucy.
(2) Tonight, once the Gordon Volunteer Fire Chief got the fire truck he had to travel to Highway 95, north to Houston County 81, then east to Houston County Road 81, then south to Highway 84, then east to Houston County Road 85, then south to Houston County Road 8, hang a left, to Barton Road, hang a right to Fire Department Road to respond to a structure fire on Fire Department Road in Lucy.
(3) Perhaps, the nearest fire hyrdrant was traveling # 2 back near the Gordon Fire Station to get more water. Could be wrong, but not far off target.
(4) A structure fire in Geneva County – Fadette – on Monday, Geneva County Emergency Management responded. NO Emergency Management iin Houston County responds!!!! Not the fault of the Emergency Management Direcot but the fault of the Houston County Commission.
(5) A resident on highway 95 north found out today that he can not get to his house because south of his house Houston County has dug out the roadway and north of his house the railroad has the road dug up. He can not get to his driveway and found out when his lovely wife went to the house today. And will remain closed through Thursday at the earliest.
(6) The residence has a numerical number provide by Dothan-Houston County 911, a driveway and a gate. Unless by air drop from a helicopter can not get the his residence. And if he did get there and needed an ambulance, OH WELL, call a helicopter because NO WAY for an ambulance to get to the residence.
(7) I know your inactions has a lawsuit already filed against Houston County in the United States Federal Court – Middle Division. Where a six or seven figure cost to Houston County will more than likely come. And the responsibility of that lawsuit rests firmly and solely on your shoulders. WHAT if this residence catches fire or land catches fire? How can a fire truck get there.
HEY BRANDON SHOUPE
REALIZE YOUR WORDS ARE ” I AM A POLITICIAN”
AND YOU DO NOT LIKE TO BE CALLED OUT … BUT THE SHOE FITS TONIGHT – so no aquit !!!!
TAYLOR: 6:00 PM The Taylor City Council, less Councilman Kenny Taylor who was reported to be out of town, met in a regular scheduled meeting. Lasted 18 minutes.
The regular agenda where the council votes on items was short. Approve minutes for January 20, 2026 meeting, grading-concrete for playground, IT quotes, and purchase chlorinator pumps ( 2 ) for the wells. The IT quotes were tabled for clarification of the amounts and what it includes. One bid was a fixed rate for each month and one was a per hour. The question was software upgrades and associated costs.
The Taylor City Council then adjourned the meeting to the Administrative Meeting. This meeting is not one where items can be voted on. The purpose is for discussion of items and if the majority approves, the item is moved to the next regular council meeting to vote up or down.
There were four items on the Administrative agenda; (1) sidewalk/playground – quotes (2) Michael Spence – Water Supervisor to attend training (3) Transmission replacement on Code Enforcement vehicle (4) Police Chief decision. All items were moved to the February 17 Regular Council Meeting where they can be voted on.
Taylor Mayor Robert Lamb expressed wanting the Police Chief to be hired tonight. Mayor Lamb possibly admitted to a Alabama Open Meetings Violation. It was stated what Council Members were present to interview the Police Chief candidates. If all were present who were mentioned it means there was a quorum present for the interviews. Mayor Lamb asked Councilman John Milner if he and Councilman Kenny Taylor had discussed the interviews and Councilman Milner said no. That all he knew were the names because they had been mentioned and one was a current Taylor Police Officer.
The council reminded Mayor Robert Lamb the council could not vote in an Administrative Meeting. Mayor Lamb stated that the Acting Police Chief was at the end of the time he could legally serve as Acting Police Chief and they needed to hire the police chief. Again, the Mayor was reminded that had to be done in a regular City Council Meeting, which was already adjourned and legally the City Council could not vote on the issue until next regular meeting.
The two candidates were present. One is Cody ( last name unknown ) who is a current Taylor Police Officer and Aaron Cook who is a SRO with Henry County Sheriff Department.
Mayor Robert Lamb was sworn in as Mayor of Taylor on November 3, 2025 at 8:00 AM. At 8:45 AM, in a common plan, scheme and design, Mayor Robert Lamb called then Taylor Police Chief James Brazier into Taylor Magistrate Ann Baxter’s office, with Ann Baxter present, with Gary Maxwell, prosecutor for City of Taylor ( not the city attorney but the prosecutor ) and terminated Chief Brazier. It was a well known plan, scheme and design of Incumbent Mayor Robert Lamb that he planned to terminate James Brazier as Police Chief once he took office. It was within 45 minutes of Lamb being sworn in as Mayor for the common plan, scheme and design to take place.
At a recent Taylor City Council meeting there was discussion over a drug policy and that Taylor needed one. Tonight Councilman John Milner called himself out, the Mayor out and fellow council members about not knowing and having read the City of Taylor employee handbook. Councilman Milner stated there was a drug policy in the handbook and he himself should have read it before. That made Taylor Mayor Robert Lamb mad and he pouted that they could not expect him to know everything. That he had only been Mayor since November. Mayor Lamb was totally confused because he kept attempting to talk about the provider who administered the drug tests. Which was not what councilman Milner was saying. Milner’s reference was to the drug policy. The meeting it was discussed was one Councilman Kenny Thompson was in charge of because Mayor Lamb was reported to have been sick. So Mayor Lamb pouted for NO REASON!!!
However, Mayor Lamb … you were the Ordinance Compliance Officer for City of Taylor before you resigned to seek Mayor for the City of Taylor. You drove a vehicle, marked, as Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Taylor. The last page of the handbook, which was in force when you were Code Enforcement Officer, is the same today. The last page reads:
EMPLOYEE ACCEPTANCE FORM, DATE, EMPLOYEE NAME, DEPARTMENT, BY SIGNING BELOW, I ACKNOWLEDGE I HAVE RECEIVED I HAVE READ THE POLICIES CONTAINED HEREIN.SIGNED ______ cc. Employee File.
First, you were not present when the issue was discussed. Second, RSN knew the City of Taylor had a drug policy, so you should have known. Third, you should have known because the handbook reflects you would have had to sign for it and that you had read the policies. DAH!!!!!!!!!
Councilman Milner asked that the agenda and documents be sent to the council members prior to a meeting and posted on web site. That mad Mayor Robert Lamb mad and he continued to pout. He seemed offended. Councilman Milner told Mayor Lamb this was no reason to get mad, that the Council should know before the meeting and have time to review before they walked in a meeting and the citizens should have easy access to the agenda and items to be discussed in the event someone wanted to come to the meeting. Mayor Lamb continued to be mad.
Then the citizens started with questions about Animal Control. Mayor Lamb said the cost was to much to place the animals at the animal shelter and they did not pick animals up. Mayor Lamb said the voting members of the council were present and to ask them. And the meeting kinda faded with citizens talking and Mayor adjourned the meeting. Mayor Lamb and choir went to the back of the room to discuss and be critical of Councilman Milner when Milner needed to be applauded for being open and honest. And he called himself out for having not ever read the manual.
Councilman Milner, job well done. Mayor Lamb, I almost said this during the meeting but I am not there to argue with you. But you were very immature in the meeting. Just be open and honest.
As a former employee, you should have known about the employee handbook. And before you terminated Police Chief James Brazier you should have been aware of the procedures. Because the legal and proper procedures were not followed.
And to the sitting members of the City of Taylor Council, PLEASE, before you hire a Police Chief, read Code of Alabama 11-43-81 through 11-43-160, and due process requirements in Code of Alabama 11-43-230. If you do not, and do not discuss in depth with legal council, and costs the voting citizens of Taylor a lot of money because of your ignorance, remember;
CITY OF ASHFORD ACCEPTING RESUMES THROUGH FEBRUARY 17, 2026.
The City of Ashford is now accepting resumes for a Part-Time Community Events Coordinator, a position focused on planning, organizing, and supporting community events throughout the year.
City officials say the role will center on creating well-organized, family-friendly events designed to bring residents together and enhance quality of life in Ashford. Events may include seasonal activities, community gatherings, and city-supported programs for residents of all ages.
According to the job posting, the position is part-time and reports directly to the mayor. The Community Events Coordinator will work closely with city departments, local businesses, organizations, and volunteers to ensure events are planned and executed smoothly from start to finish.
Primary responsibilities include:
Planning and coordinating city-led community events
Collaborating with city departments, local businesses, organizations, and volunteers
Assisting with basic event promotion and communication
Supporting events from the planning stage through completion
Preferred qualifications include:
Strong organizational and communication skills
Experience in event coordination or community involvement
Dependability, attention to detail, and a community-focused mindset
Compensation and work hours will be determined based on experience and qualifications.
HOW TO APPLY:
*Those interested may submit a resume by email to mayor@cityofashford.com or drop off a resume at Ashford City Hall. The city will accept resumes through February 17, 2026.
City officials say the position is part of Ashford’s ongoing efforts to create engaging opportunities that bring the community together.
