Promotions and Awards Ceremony for DPD
2:10 UPDATE: 08:57 AM. Structure fire at Jersey Drive, woman charged with arson
UPDATE: Reports indicate Jaime Brooke Harrell was charged with arson after the fire. Investigators say the fire was set on purpose.
HOUSTON COUNTY: 08:21 AM. Houston County 911 dispatched Columbia Fire – Rescue, Webb Volunteer Fire, Kinsey Volunteer Fire and Headland Fire to a structure fire on Jersey Drive.
Jersey Drive is west of Columbia off Bill Yance Road.
At the time of dispatch Houston County 911 reported smoke and flames visible and no fire hydrants were in the area.
On arrival Columbia Fire reported smoke only visible. The fire units were quick to get fire under control.
Houston County Sheriff Deputies are on the scene along with Kinsey Police Chief Jim Mock.
Houston County gets health sensors for inmates in county jail
Last year an inmate died in the Houston County Jail due to medical issues — but some new tech for the Houston County Sheriff’s Office could help prevent that happening again.
That tech comes in the form of sensors from 4Sight Labs worn around the wrist or ankle that allow jail staff to monitor inmates’ health vitals using a cell phone with an app installed.
Sheriff Donald Valenza paid for the sensors from his funds. The 15 sensors the jail now has billed about $50,000, aside from upkeep costs.
They’re not easily destroyed, and the wristband is lockable with a 300-pound resistance, said Captain David Asbill.
The county jail typically has six to eight inmates on suicide watch on any given day, but the sensors can help people with health issues or those recovering from drug or alcohol withdrawals.
Staff can watch for pulse spikes or temperature fluctuations and can go check on the inmate if anything looks off.
Shelby County has been using the sensors for under two years, and they’ve been able to save three lives.
Some certified nursing assistants have stepped in on nights to supply medical care, but these sensors will allow for much quicker action.
“You could check on an inmate right now, then two minutes later, you could have a medical emergency,” Asbill said. “This monitor will let us know immediately.”
New mural coming to Dothan
Art in Public Places announced a new mural will be coming to Dothan celebrating the Press Thornton Future Masters Golf Tournament.
Muralist Wes Hardin will pain the mural on the side of the BLP building at the corner or Main Street and Cherokee Avenue — along the route to the Dothan County Club, where the tournament is held every year.
“We’re overjoyed to launch Art in Public Places’ first mural in partnership with a long-standing community event that continues to bring people together from around the world,” said Holly Meyers, Executive Director of APP. “This mural reflects our goal of creating meaningful public art in places where people already live, work, and move through every day.”
The Future Masters mural is coming in Fall 2025.
National Peace Officers Memorial Day
Ivey gives ABC Board control of THC products
Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill authorizing the state ABC Board to tax, regulate and restrict the sales of consumable products containing marijuana THC, derived from hemp.
The move comes amid strong public pressure to veto the bill.
HB445’s sponsor, Rep. Andy Whitt (R – Harvest) said it will regulate products widely available in specialty shops, convenience stores and online.
Retailers will need to get a license from the ABC Board to sell products containing THC, with access limited to stores for people 21 and older. Grocery stores over a certain square footage will be able to sell seltzers, but those products will be kept behind the counter in the same manner as cigarettes.
Smokable and vaporized hemp products will be banned. Gummies and drinks are still legal, but they’re now capped at 10 milligrams for individual products and 40 milligrams per package.
It’s unclear if the bill would ban CBD products.
The Alabama Policy Institute said the bill effectively legalizes recreation marijuana, but the bill’s detractors say the bill will cost people their jobs and entire businesses and that the bill will make it harder for people with pain, anxiety or sleep troubles to have access to the products they need.