DOTHAN-HOUSTON COUNTY: 4:53 PM Houston County Sheriff Deputies went to make a traffic stop of a motorcycle.. The driver of the motorcycle had other ideas.
As the rider reached Southport at Cherry there was a sharp turn to the right. The driver only had back brakes and did not make the turn and wrecked.
Dothan Fire Engine 1 ( Central ) responded. The driver was not injured and taken into custody. He has existing arrest warrants in multiple jurisdictions. But first he will be a resident of 901 East Main Street – Houston County Jail.
HOUSTON – HENRY COUNTY: On this fire scene and a lot of scenes you will find Henry County Emergency Management Director Matt Hatcher. He is a paramedic and trained fireman. And he responds to working structure fires and wrecks with injuries, especially major wrecks.
THANK YOU to Ray Marler, Chairman of Henry County Commission and to the Henry County Commission for the support you give in your Emergency Management responding.
In Houston County, the Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management at one time responded. Under former Emergency Management Dirtectors Bobby Clemmons, Shelby Womack, Clark Matthews and Chris Judah, the Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management responded to calls, most especially in the county. The City of Dothan has enough resources. In the county, the volunteer agencies were glad to see EMA on the scene to yield it’s support.
The current Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director, Mark Powell, a former Dothan Fireman, does not respond or get outside Ross Clark Circle. Not many of the volunteers know the current EMA Director and he never responds to anything. RSN feels that is at the direction of the Houston County Commissioners ( Brandon Shoupe – Chairman, D1 Curtis Harvey, D2 Tracy Adams, D3 Ricky Herring, and D4 James Ivey ) They bought him a new truck but he does not even have a radio.
People like Ricky Herring and James Ivey do not think EMA needs to respond. If that is correct, James Ivey, Captain over Communications with Sheriff Department, should be looking after communications. However he runs to a lot of calls and makes traffic stop almost every morning traveling to and from the Sheriff Department. Ivey is more active in the field then the Captain over Patrol Services.
For some unkown reason, someone named it EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
Now I like Mark Powell, but he does not respond to anything, does not ever attend the Houston County Fire Chief Association, Houston County EMS Meetings or Houston County Rescue Meetings. Powell DOES NOTHING as to emergency response or assist the volunteers in needs. Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management is in reality a non existance agency of four full time people which cost Houston County over $ 130,000.00 a year rent to be in the emergency operations center.
Never believe the Houston County Commission when they say they are wise stewards of your taxpayer dollars.
The City of Dothan Municipal Court is offering an Amnesty Court to help individuals resolve eligible outstanding municipal warrants without fear of arrest.
Amnesty Court is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, and applies only to cases within the City of Dothan’s Municipal Court.
Those interested must call ahead to verify eligibility and be placed on the Amnesty Court docket.
Call to verify eligibility: 334-615-4150
Deadline to call: Friday, March 6, 2026
Amnesty Court date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Court officials stress that individuals must call before the deadline to qualify. This opportunity allows eligible participants to address outstanding warrants and move forward.
The Mayor of Ozark will host a meeting Friday morning to continue discussions on addressing homelessness in the city.
Mayor Charles Ward is scheduled to convene the meeting at 9:00 a.m. Friday, January 16. The meeting follows an initial gathering held Tuesday, January 13, where community members and local organizations came together to share information about existing resources and services available to individuals experiencing homelessness.
During Tuesday’s meeting, participants discussed current efforts underway in the community and explored ways agencies and organizations could better collaborate to address homelessness in Ozark.
Friday’s meeting is expected to build on those discussions and continue exploring potential solutions.
Ward was elected mayor in August 2025. Prior to taking office, he served as Ozark’s director of public safety.
COFFEE COUNTY: Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd has announced his bid for re-election as Sheriff for Coffee County. This is his first term and he is asking the registered voters for a chance to continue serving the citizens and guests of Coffee County.
Sheriff Scott Byrd takes pride in the team built within Coffee County Sheriff Department. During these four years they have had great retention in the Deputies who have served. That retention allows the men and women in uniform to know the county, the citizens of the county. The citizens who are peaceful and lawabiding and those who are not law abiding. The retention has also allowed the Coffee County Sheriff Department to be proactive in crime prevention. With the visibility, you often times can not quantify the crimes you have prevented, just the ones that were not prevented. But visibility deters crime.
With the help of the Coffee County Commission, the Coffee County Sheriff Department has maintained their fleet of vehicles, been able to add onto the Administrative Offices of the Sheriff Department. Working with 911, the county 911 center is now located next to the Sheriff Department in New Brockton. The center handles all 911 services for law enforcement and fire in Coffee County, except Enterprise Police, Enterprise Fire and Enterprise Rescue.
Sheriff Scott Byrd, working with Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham, moved the Coroner’s Office into the Coffee County Sheriff Department. For the first time ever in Coffee County there is a business office which families can come to for any paperwork needs or to meet with the Coroner. The Sheriff Administrative Staff assists the Coroner with paperwork and needs families might have.
Sheriff Byrd said the next four years will present some significant needs such as addressing the Coffee County Jail.
Sheriff Scott Byrd said the highlight of his life has been the opportunity to serve the citizens of Coffee County and the guests of Coffee County. He asks everyone for their vote.
DOTHAN: 1:43 PM Dothan 911 dispatched a structure fire on North Bell Street near Chickasaw Street. Reports to Dothan 911 flames and smoke visible. Dothan 911 reported that the residence was believed to be abandoned.
Dothan Fire Engine 10 ( West Main ) reported smoke visible in sky from Montgomery Highway and North Park Avenue.
Dothan Fire Battalion Chief Lee was first on the scene and reported a working structure fire, smoke and flames visible.
As Dothan Fire Engines arrived it was announced a defensive fire only and no other structures are in danger. The utility connection did not appear to be connected. There was fear a wall would fall and Dothan Fireman were pulled avay from the collapse zone.
Dothan Fire Chief David Hasty is on the scene.
Defensive mode is to put fire out from outside, DO NOT ENTER structure and keep fire contained to the one residence.
