COWARTS: This past week RSN was in Cowarts and met with Cowarts Mayor Randy Rowland and Cowarts Councilman Glenn S. Bowers.
Councilman Bowers and Mayor Rowland discussed about their tenure in leadersip in Cowarts. A lot of the progress they felt that has been made during their service in the Town of Cowarts.
They consider their offices as an office of service to the citizens and guests of Cowarts.
Listen to what they have to say..
At 3:19 pm Dothan 911 communications dispatched Dothan Fire, Police, and Pilchers Ambulance to the intersection of Brannonstand Road and West Main Street with reports of a motor vehicle collision with critical injuries and one vehicle overturned.
One East bound lane of Main Street is closed and the South bound lane of Brannonstand Road is closed at this time. One patient was transported with critical injuries.Scene photos are being withheld at this time.
More information will be updated as it comes available. 
OZARK: 8:05 PM On August 26, 2025 the registered voters of Ozark Alabama will go to the polls to elect Mayor of Ozark.
The incumbent, Mark Blankenship is running for re-election. The challenger is the retired Colonel of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Charles Ward who was later appointed as Interiem Police Chief of Ozark, then Director of Ozark Department of Public Safety which includes Police, Fire and EMS.
On July 20. 2021 Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship asked the Ozark City Council members to enter into an executive session. THe purpose was an ambush on then Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker. Mayor Blankenship got the Ozark City Council to terminate Marlos Walker as Police Chief, illegally. The next morning, July 21, 2021 at 9:00 AM Mayor Mark Blankenship called a press conference introducing Charles Ward as Interiem Police Chief.
Because Mayor Mark Blankenship did not tell the Ozark City Council Members the truth the Ozark City Council had to re-instate Marlos Walker as Ozark Police Chief. That resulted in negotiations and a seperation agreement with Walker.
Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship has made allegations against Charles Ward. One was Ward “begged” to be police chief. Well first, Charles Ward served as Colonel over the entire uniform disvision of the entire State of Alabama. But the “begged” according to Mark Blankenship to be Ozark Police Chief!!! The truth, in my opinion, Mark Blankenship knew getting rid of Marlos Walker, a black male, that he had to replace him with a black male. While I like and have confidence in Charles Ward, it was not about Ward begging Blankenship.
During the tenure of Marlos Walker he brought out some cold case files on murders. I know of two different cases, three victims, Walker solved their murder cases. And got convictions. And all Mark Blanlenship did was put a boot up Marlos Walker’s rear. The Mayor and City Council never formally recognized and thanked Marlos Walker for doing something no one else had done. And he gave families peace.
Mark Blankenship said in his post that Ward cost the City of Ozark a multi million dollar lawsuit. That was not Charles Ward but it was Mark Blankenship, 100%. It was Blankenship who got arrest warrants on a veteran and lost the case in court. And Mark knows it.
When Mark Blankenship served as Dale County Commission Chairman, he drove then Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson insane. A very respected and dedicated law enforcement officer and servant of the people, Olson was constantly having the battle with Mark Blankenship. Sheriff Olson was an elected official that Blankenship had no management authority over. And finally it got so bad the four members of the Dale County Commission cut most of Mark Blankenship’s powers as Chairman of the Dale County Commission.
Blankenship wants to say he has not micro managed the Ozark Police Department. The Chief of Police is appointed and he has some management over the police chief. So if as Dale County Commission Chairman he was attempting to micro manage Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson, do you honestly believe Mark Blankenship that he has not micro managed Ozark Police Department?
In my opinion Mark Blankenship is a narcistic individual. He got into the Dale County Commission Chairman race after he became Mayor of Ozark and lost. He picked the fight with the Army Veteran and lost.
The citizens of Ozark Alabama deserve more. And Chiarles Ward is not doing it as self serving or adding to his resume. He has already been top dog of the entire Alabama State Troopers. A much more important job and respected job then the Mayor of Ozark Alabama.
I did not want to leave Mark’s post unanswered. He sent me a text thanking me for my endorsement and it helps in. That was his smart rear response. DO NOT TAKE THIS AS AN ENDORSEMENT. It is some things you, the registered voters of Ozark Alabama need to know.
DOTHAN: On July 29, 2025 Rickey Stokes filed a complaint against the Dothan School Board in Houston County Circuit Court. The complaint was for violations of the Alabama Open Meetings law.
On August 18, 2025 the Honorable Todd Derrick issued a ruling: ” After careful review of the law and the evidence, the Court does not find any such violation. Defendant’s Motion To Dismiss is granted”.
Judge Derrick did an outstanding job in research and looking at the case. What I learned is the Alabama Open Meetings Law is written to allow those in positions to hide from the public and nothing can be done. The Judge has to follow the law and not make law. And Judge Derrick followed the law.
However I still maintain that four members of the board have violated the law, been hiding from the public, and doing things not in the best interest of the children. And my filing was not for any reason other than to try and get the focus of the members on what their purpose is, the children and their education.
Here is the entire court filing so you can read my filings and the filings of the four Dothan School Board Members. THANK YOU to Attorney Steve McGowen and his entire firm for their help in this case.
CV 2025-54 Completed by Rickey Stokes
DOTHAN: 07:43. Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Police, Dothan Fire and Pilcher Ambulance to 1604 Alexander Drive to a firearm assault.
The victim was reported to have been shot in the hand. The injuries are not reported to be life threatening.
Dothan Police Patrol requested Criminal Investigation Division to respond. A female was taken into custody and transported to Criminal Investigation Division. At this time it is unknown if arrested or just questioning. This is reported a domestic related incident.
Dothan Police are still on the scene conducting investigation.
NOTE: Crimes stats in Dothan are down on violent crime. And Dothan Police do a super terrific job on preventable crime. But how can anyone prevent a domestic related incident? If law enforcement are not called before the situation escalates to where the firearm assault takes place, it is a unpreventable crime.
