DOTHAN: Students across Dothan City Schools wrapped up their fall break by giving back in a big way — donating more than 6,000 canned goods and nonperishable items to support families in need throughout the Wiregrass.
The district organized coordinated food drives at multiple campuses, with contributions delivered to the Salvation Army, Wiregrass Area Food Bank, Mama T’s, and the Southeast Alabama Youth Services Girls Home. School leaders say the donations will help keep local shelves stocked as the holiday season approaches — a time when the need for assistance often increases.
Here’s a look at what students collected:
Dothan High School — 1,200+ cans for the Wiregrass Area Food Bank
Selma Street Elementary — 651 cans for the Salvation Army
Heard Elementary — 3,131 cans for the Salvation Army
Highlands Elementary — 423 cans for the Salvation Army
Morris Slingluff Elementary — 300 cans for the Salvation Army
Hidden Lake Primary — 278 cans for the Salvation Army
Dothan City Virtual School — 150 nonperishable items for Mama T’s & the Girls Home
District officials say the effort showcases DCS’s commitment to service, leadership, and community partnership — values they work to promote in every school across the system.
It’s that time of year again, and the friendly rivalry is back! The Ozark Fire Department and the Ozark Police Department are going head-to-head to see who can collect the *most toys* for Operation Santa Claus.
Saturday, December 6
Walmart in Ozark
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Bring a new, unwrapped toy and help make Christmas brighter for local children. This annual event is presented by the City of Ozark in partnership with Dale County DHR.
If you can’t make it to Walmart, toys can also be dropped off at these locations:
• Dowling Station – 506 North Union Avenue
• Station #3 – 1061 Deese Road
• Chancey Station – 202 Will Logan Road
Let’s come together and make a difference for families right here in our community!
DOTHAN: A Dothan man died behind the wheel of his vehicle after a fentanyl overdose in late September, and police say they have arrested the person responsible for supplying the deadly drug.
Shortly before 3:00 a.m. on September 20, officers responded to the intersection of West Powell Street and North Herring Street after a vehicle had been sitting through the light for more than 30 minutes. Inside, they found 41-year-old Joel Nicholson unresponsive in the driver’s seat, his foot still on the brake.
First responders administered Narcan in an attempt to revive him, but Nicholson was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed he died from a fentanyl overdose.
During the investigation, Dothan Police identified the individual believed to have sold Nicholson the fentanyl. On October 1, officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the 400 block of Pine Hills Drive. There, 39-year-old Vikthor Roman was taken into custody.
Police say Roman admitted during an interview to supplying Nicholson with the fentanyl. He is charged with manslaughter-fentanyl and is being held in the Houston County Jail without bond.
“Fentanyl is a dangerous substance that affects the lives of many in our community,” Police Chief William E. Benny said in a statement. “Those who are possessing and/or distributing this dangerous substance in our community will be found, will be arrested, and will be prosecuted to the fullest allowed by law. We take our responsibility seriously to get these dangerous drugs off the street to protect our community.”
DOTHAN: If you have ridden by the old Westgate Fire Station on Westgate Parkway over the last several weeks you have seen a lot of Dothan Police Cars parked there.
Dothan Police Chief Will Benny requested Dothan City Manager Randy Morris, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and the Associate Dothan Commissioners to undergo a contract with Axon Enterprises for new in car and body worn camera systems. In September 2025 Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and the Associate Commissioners approved the 10 year contract with Axon Enterprises. The contract was for the bundled technology package to include hardware, software, services and warranties.
With the the old Westgate Fire Station being currently empty Dothan Police and Axon were able to use the facility to install the updated camera systems and related equipment.
Dothan Police Chief Will Benny is heavy on technology. Seeing how the current technology and every day advancements in technology helps emergency responders and law enforcement in the performance of their duties to protect and save lives. Chief Benny wants to provide the officers of Dothan Police the most advanced technology available and to provide the tools needed, not to perform “at standards” but to perform “above standards”.
If you know Chief Will Benny, he is not satisfied with just serving, he wants the bar set high for the officers to exceed what is the norm. He demands productivity. And a recent firearm assault was solved in 27 minutes from the time the call hit 911 recently. And the suspect was not on the scene. The 911 staff, combined with technology, information and good police work, in just 27 minutes suspect identified, located and taken into custody. You would not believe how quick people get ” I saw nothing” when something happens.
This technology upgrade has many tools built in that aids law enforcement in solving crime. It also has many key components for the officers to summon help as situation begin to escalate. Dothan Police supervisors and 911 Communications staff can remotely look through the cameras, real time, to see what is actually taking place while on a call. This protects the officers while on calls to know someone is able to dispatch additional assistance as dangers are increasing.
This technology helps provide the true and accurate facts in reports and details for court when required. It helps protect the officers from rogue complaints and helps police management monitor officers actions while on calls.
In law enforcement the smallest of details matter. The advanced technology offer wider point of view of the officers eye sight had than the old system.
Chief Benny and several members of Dothan Police Command Staff along with some of the elected leadership flew to the corporate of Axon before the decision was made. They were able to negotiate some good deals by the personal visit to corporate headquarters.
So SMILE … when Dothan Police Officers interact, both you and the officer’s field of view are recorded, in high quality video and audio. In this system is can accurate depict when the taser is being deployed or when a officer un-holster’s his firearm.
The Axon Body 4
is a body-worn camera that enhances situational awareness for law enforcement and public safety professionals through a variety of advanced features. Key features include bi-directional communication, an improved camera, real-time alerts, and a full-shift battery life.
Enhanced communication and awareness
Bi-directional communication: Unlike older systems that only allowed one-way livestreaming, the
Axon Body 4
enables two-way communication between the wearer and a live support team, such as dispatch or supervisors. This allows support staff to provide real-time guidance to the officer in the field.
Watch Me button: Officers can press a dedicated “Watch Me” button to signal for live assistance from their team, which broadcasts their location and live feed through the Axon Respond platform.
Real-time alerts and GPS: The camera provides real-time location data via GPS and can be configured to send instant alerts to the Axon Respond map during critical incidents. These alerts can be triggered by automatic events, such as a firearm being unholstered or a TASER device being armed.
Improved image capture
Wider field of view: The camera captures a more expansive 160-degree field of view with a new 4:3 aspect ratio, providing 39% more visibility than previous models.
Upgraded 5 MP sensor: A more powerful image sensor delivers sharper images and greater detail, resulting in clearer, more reliable video evidence.
Optional POV camera: An optional point-of-view (POV) camera can be attached to provide an alternative perspective. It can be mounted on the head, shoulder, or sunglasses for additional or more dynamic footage.
Performance and operational efficiency
Full-shift battery life: With a larger 4300 mAh battery, the camera can last for a full 13-hour shift, even while using real-time features.
Rapid charging: The magnetic fast-charge cable can deliver a 20% charge in just 30 minutes, allowing for minimal downtime.
Streamlined operation: The user interface and programmable buttons are designed for ease of use in the field. This includes configurable operation settings and confirmation prompts for recording.
Security and storage
Encrypted storage: Footage is secured with XTS-AES 256 full-disk encryption to prevent unauthorized access.
128 GB of storage: The camera includes a solid-state drive with 128 GB of internal storage for reliable on-device recording.
Seamless integration: The
Axon Body 4
integrates with the Axon Evidence platform for secure, cloud-based digital evidence management.
Bridge language barriers with your body-worn camera
Real-Time Translation supports real-time conversation in more than 50 languages, helping officers communicate clearly and quickly make informed decisions when a human translator isn’t available.
Rewrite Report Writing
Draft One force multiplies agencies and saves officers multiple hours every week by automatically drafting police report narratives based on body-worn camera audio.
“We see ourselves as a technology company committed to making the world a safer, less dangerous place. We’re focused on providing tools that help prevent violence, hold people accountable and address the complex challenges of modern society.”
Rick Smith, Axon Founder and CEO
“Axon AI represents not just a single product, but a commitment to continuous innovation for our customers. This will enable officers to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently—driving real change in public safety.”
WALTON COUNTY, A 19-year-old from Troy is facing multiple charges after deputies say he pulled a revolver during a road rage confrontation.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office reports that Walker Phillips was taken into custody without incident in the parking lot of a convenience store in Santa Rosa Beach. Investigators say Phillips became angry in traffic and pointed a handgun at another vehicle.
Deputies later located a revolver and a Winchester firearm inside Phillips’ truck.
Phillips is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The case remains under investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
