rickey@rickeystokesnews.com

Text Rickey: 334-790-1729

Please drive safely and keep Christmas crash-free

Please drive safely and keep Christmas crash-free

After 2 p.m. two days before Christmas, various agencies across the Wiregrass have already worked some five or six wrecks.

RSN would like to remind you to drive safely while you’re traveling to meet family.

SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER. Adhere to speed limits, and move out of the left lane to allow faster drivers to pass you.

DO NOT TAILGATE. You should keep a good distance between you and the car in front of you. Think ahead; what would happen if the car you’re tailgating had to slam on brakes?

USE EXTRA CAUTION AROUND ROAD WORK. While there may not be workers out, road work can leave roads more narrow than they used to be. Go more slowly and remember that cones often mean progress.

PLAN ALTERNATIVE ROUTES IF YOU KNOW YOU MAY BE GOING THROUGH AREAS WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC OR MUCH CONSTRUCTIONS. Especially in front of Sam’s Club on the Circle, there are new traffic patterns and still much construction. If you know you’ll be going through those areas of heavy construction, consider taking another route.

MOVE OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. Remember: if emergency vehicles are stopped on the side of the road, you MUST move over to the opposite lane to give them room.

BUCKLE UP, AND DON’T USE YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING. Alabama now has seatbelt laws and hands-free laws. To avoid tickets—and more importantly, to avoid crashes and keep you safe in the event of a crash—buckle up and put the phone down.

Keep your Christmas crash-free; don’t wind up on Rickey Stokes News, don’t end up in the emergency room, and don’t expect a visit from the coroner.

Field fire on County Road 85; pasture on fire

Field fire on County Road 85; pasture on fire

Fire units are responding to a call of an outdoor fire at 1769 S County Road 85. Initial reports indicated a pasture is on fire, and the caller had moved the cattle away from the pasture.

Mutual aid was called for a tanker truck.

Reminder: Houston County property taxes due Dec. 31

Reminder: Houston County property taxes due Dec. 31

As the year draws to a close, the Houston County Revenue Commissioner is reminding the public property taxes are due on December 31 to avoid penalties and fees.

All Special Homestead Applications and Current Use Agricultural Exemption Applications are due by December 31, 2024, in order to be applied for the 2025 tax year. Business Personal Property returns should also be returned by December 31, 2024.

Taxes, applications and returns can be turned in to the revenue office or can be mailed and post marked by December 31, 2024.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the revenue office at 334-677-4717 for Assessing, 334-677-4716 for Collecting or 334-677-4757 for Business Personal Property.

12 P.M.: Severe wreck on 84 West; one critical injury; 84 West traffic at a crawl

12 P.M.: Severe wreck on 84 West; one critical injury; 84 West traffic at a crawl

Rescue units are responding to a wreck at Highway 84 West and Bay Springs Road. Heavy damage is indicated, and airbags were deployed.

Early reports indicate person was trapped in a vehicle.

One patient has critical injuries. Pilcher’s has been dispatched.

Bay Springs Volunteer Fire, Dothan Fire Engine 8, Wicksburg Fire and Rescue, Houston County Sheriffs and ALEA Troopers responded.

Traffic going west on Highway 84 is at a crawl; westbound drivers are being detoured.