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.
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.
DALE COUNTY: 8:55 PM. Ozark – Dale County 911 dispatched multiple law enforcement officers to a person making suicide threats.
Because of the situation RSN will not disclose the location.
Multiple law enforcement officers from several agencies responded and assisted and EMS was on standby by.
Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum spoke to the patient who hung up on him several times. The patient had a firearm in his possession.
The calmness of Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum and all officers with all agencies made this tense situation end successfully.
The patient was provided medical treatment. But the citizens of Dale County can be proud of the leadership of Sheriff Mason Bynum and the men and women of all agencies involved. They were very patient, kept the patient under observation and was able to rationally end this tense situation where no one was hurt.
RSN is not naming the agencies because we are disclosing the location.
MENTAL ILLNESS is no different then any other illness whether it be chest pains or tooth ache. It is a treatable issue and everyone has issues. SPECTRACARE CRISIS CENTER on Headland Avenue near Westgate Parkway is FREE and a walk in facility with trained personnel to help people who have thoughts where a person needs some specialist. FREE! WALK IN! Family brings you.
SUICIDE is never the answer. And never be embarrassed to seek help just as you would if you have chest pains, back ache or any other medical issue.
DOTHAN: 9:39 PM. Dothan 911 dispatched Dothan Police to the area of Horace Shephard Road in reference to an escape from the Southeast Diversion Center.
Unknown the description of the subject. Dothan Police have K-9’s on the ground and searching that area and TSU-D.
Houston County Sheriff Lt. Ray Arnold is in the area of TSU-D searching.
UPDATED @ 10:17 PM
There are two juveniles that have escaped from the Diversion Center.
