Long Wins Record 17th State Title

By Brandon Faulkner

The G.W. Long Rebels won their 17th State Championship on May 19. Long’s 17th title is the most state championship titles by any high school in Alabama. UMS-Wright and Sweet Water are tied for the second most State Championship titles in Alabama with ten each.

Read More

Wiregrass Blues Society Presents Check to CHS Band at BOE Meeting

By Christopher Mobley

During the Ozark City Schools Board of Education meeting held Thursday, May 19, it wasn’t just a time for business, but a time for recognition and applause. The Wiregrass Blues Society came to present a check for $2500 to the CHS Band at the monthly meeting. 

Read More

Bivins Realty Group Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

By Christopher Mobley

Ozark is a city that has seen a lot of development and growth in the past couple of years. This means more business, more opportunity, and more real estate. This growth and opportunity are the main things that brings businesses like Bivins Realty Group back home, ready to satisfy the housing needs of those looking to move or upgrade their homes.

Read More

Primaries End with Multiple Run-offs

By Christina Faulkner

In the primary election held last week on Tuesday, May 24, Adam Enfinger defeated incumbent Dale County Commissioner, Charles “Chic” Gary for the District 3 seat with 53.64% of the total vote. Governor Kay Ivey withstood an eight-candidate race without a resulting run-off. Ivey secured 54.5% of the vote. Only two other Republican primary races ended cleanly with no run-off, Steve Marshall for Attorney General and Greg Cook for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Place 5. 

Read More

Carroll High Girls’ Soccer Coach Honored as Coach of The Year

By Christopher Mobley

Carroll High School Girls’ Soccer Coach Kirke Adams was awarded with Dothan Eagle’s Super 12 Coach of the Year recently. 

Kirke Adams has been with the Carroll High Girls’ Soccer team since their first game together in 2003. This past season makes over 20 seasons during which Coach Adams has been with them every step of the way. Even after a successful winning season, Adams says that the award comes as a pleasant surprise. 

Read More

Historic Church Host to Nuptials

By Christina Faulkner

A wedding was held at the historic Claybank Church and Cemetery this past weekend. Howard Williamson of Pennsylvania and Marcia Lutz of Ozark said their vows at the historic site at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 5. The nuptials were officiated by Scott Gordon. The couple will make their home in Pennsylvania.

Read More

Daughter of Fort Rucker Soldier Earns Miss Ozark Title

By Jim Hughes, Fort Rucker Public Affairs

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The daughter of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence chief of staff earned the honor of representing a nearby community when she became Miss Ozark at the city’s pageant April 30.

Greta “GiGi” Gardner, daughter of Col. Whitney B. and Melissa Gardner, said she is thrilled and proud to represent the city in which she’s lived for the past year.

Read More

Ozark Hosts Street Festival

By Christopher Mobley

This past Saturday, the people of Ozark had the chance to enjoy their afternoon with food, hot rods, live music, and other fun activities during this year’s Street Festival! With plenty of food vendors, the Cornhole tournament at West Court Square, the Patriotic Kids Parade, and ending the evening with live performances from local bands, the crowd had plenty of entertainment to keep them in the square all day.

Read More

Rucker Helicopter Crashes Near Ozark

By Christina Faulkner

Ozark-Dale County E-911 responded to reports of a helicopter crash in the vicinity of the 4000 block of County Road 108 early Monday afternoon, June 6. According to a press release from Fort Rucker officials, an AH-64 Apache helicopter experienced an aviation incident shortly before 2 p.m. 

The Apache crashed into the trees along the side of County Road 108 sustaining visible damage to the exterior of the craft.

Read More

Finish Line Tires Celebrates Anniversary Ribbon Cutting

By Christopher Mobley

In the city of Ozark, one thing that keeps businesses around and successful is the strong sense of community in the area. Businesses and business owners who aim to serve the people who support them. This is the type of community bond that has brought Finish Line Tires to its sixth year in business. 

“It’s our sixth year and we love it,” said Cinny Clarke, wife of owner Zak Clarke. “It feels good, especially to be productive in the community and help so many people. It feels great.”

Read More

Holman Funeral Home Celebrated as Business of the Month

By Christopher Mobley

“Where families have come for comfort and closure since 1929.” That tagline perfectly explains the longevity and connection to the community that Holman Funeral Home has always built their business on. When current owners, Ted Smith, Bill Sullivan and Ann Sullivan, purchased Holman Funeral Home in October of 2021, they aimed to keep the same principles and community bond. It is this dedication that has led to Holman Funeral Home winning the Ozark Chamber of Commerce’s June Business of the Month award.

Read More

South & Grace Boutique Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

By Christopher Mobley

Ozark is a city that continues to grow more and more every day. More small businesses, and more areas to shop in the city. This is something that is important to the owner of South & Grace Boutique, who celebrated their ribbon cutting this past week. 

“Me being young and energetic, I just felt like we needed this,” said Errin Bivins, owner of South & Grace Boutique. “I know that we have more small businesses around in Ozark, and that’s what we need, to keep people shopping in Ozark.”

Read More

New Name Recommended for Fort Rucker

By Christina Faulkner

After evaluating over 34,000 nominations the Department of Defense Commission’s recommendation for the renaming of nine military installations named after confederate leaders was released last month on May 24. Fort Rucker was among the nine military installations to be renamed. 

Fort Rucker was named for Colonel Edmund Rucker, a brigade commander in the Confederate army and later given the honorary title of general. 

Read More

Election Run-Off to be Held Tuesday, Jun. 21

By Christina Faulkner

Dale County will join with other Alabama voters for primary run-off on June 24. Both Republicans and Democrats will go to the polls once again to select candidates for key political races. 

In Dale County Democrats need only make the decision for which candidate they want to run against the ever-popular incumbent governor, Kay Ivey. The primary resulted Yolanda Rochelle Flowers and Malika Sanders Fortier unable to secure 51% of the state’s democratic vote. 

Read More

ADAI is Accepting Century & Heritage Farm and Bicentennial Farm Applications

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is now accepting applications for their annual Century & Heritage (C & H) Farm and Bicentennial Farm programs. ADAI created these programs to help recognize and celebrate family farms that have significantly impacted Alabama history and agriculture.

A Century Farm is one that has been in the same family continuously for at least 100 years and currently has agricultural activities on the farm. The farm must include at least 40 acres of land and be owned by the applicant or nominee.

Read More

WASP Receives Addition to Fleet

Special to The Southern Star

The Wiregrass Aviation Support Program was the recipient of a refurbished OH-58 helicopter, courtesy of Arista Aviation Services on June 2. Arista Chief Operating Officer, Rob Dodson joined Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson and Dothan Police Chief Will Benny as the newest addition to the program was unveiled and Dodson relinquished ownership to WASP law enforcement officers.

Read More

Local Hospital CEO Elected as Regional Leader

MONTGOMERY, AL – Vernon Johnson, CEO of Dale Medical Center, Ozark, was recently elected to the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) Board of Trustees as the Southeast Regional Hospital Council representative.

“Vernon has been a terrific leader for our Association,” said Donald E. Williamson, MD, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “He is committed to ensuring access to good, quality health care in all areas of the state, particularly for citizens of rural Alabama.”

Read More

Dispute Over ARPA EMS Funding Distribution Continues

By Christina Faulkner

Dale County mayors are not pleased with the county’s distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds directed at assisting Emergency Medical Service providers throughout the county. Electing Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship to represent them at the Dale County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, June 14, the Dale County Mayor’s Association attempted to make their voice heard once again.

Read More

Local State Farm Branch Celebrates 12 Years in Ozark

By Christopher Mobley

Longevity in the world of business is often considered a luxury only afforded to companies that are truly connected to their employees and customers. This is what has helped keep State Farm around as a trusted company for a century, with the company celebrating its 100th year anniversary earlier in June. While the company was celebrating its 100th year anniversary, a local Ozark branch also celebrated their own longevity.

Read More

Ozark City Schools Announces New Career Tech Director

By Christopher Mobley

The Ozark City Board of Education has named their new Career Technical Director for Carroll High School. 

Carroll High School’s new Career Technical Director will be Mrs. Casey Campbell Moore. Moore will be replacing Dr. Warren Weeks, who served as the  Career Technical Center’s director since August 2020.

Read More

Carroll High School Announces New Principal

By Christopher Mobley 

The Ozark City Board of Education has named Carroll High School’s new principal. 

Carroll High School’s new Principal will be Dr. Charles Corbitt Jr., who is coming to Ozark after serving as Pike County High School’s Principal in Brundidge, AL since June 1, 2020. 

Read More

Roe V. Wade Overturned, At Will Abortions Now Illegal in Alabama

By Christina Faulkner

The United States Supreme Court overturned the almost 50-year-old controversial Roe Vs. Wade decision in a conservative majority decision on Thursday, June 23. The 5-4 vote sends oversight of abortion law back to the individual states.

Attorney General Steve Marshall released a statement Friday afternoon announcing that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama had lifted the injunction against Alabama’s Human Life Protection Act.  

Read More