Eagles Down Rebels in Class 5A, Region 2 Contest

By Christina Faulkner and Brandon Faulkner

Carroll High once again mastered the matchup between the Eagles and the Rehobeth Rebels with a resounding 21-7 victory in Friday night’s Class 5A, Region 2 game in Rehobeth. Both teams came off a big win the week prior, with the Eagles defeating Dale County 39-9.

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Green McCarthyism

By Jonathan Reisman

 

Gina McCarthy is the first White House National Climate Advisor under President Biden. Before that, she was the EPA administrator under President Obama, where she trail blazed the practice of using an e-mail alias to avoid transparency and pesky freedom of information requests from deplorable non-believers and “deniers”

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Chopper’s Ol’ School BBQ Recognized

Special to The Southern Star

The Southeast Alabama AMVETS Post 7 presented Chris Wood of Chopper's Ol' School BBQ with a certificate of appreciation for their contributions to area Veterans, the community, and to the Southeast Alabama AMVETS.

Chopper’s Ol School BBQ is currently planning its 10th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving meal, whereas they provide free thanksgiving meals to military personnel on and around Fort Rucker, to public safety personnel on duty on Thanksgiving, and to citizens.

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Overnight Blaze Results in Total Loss

By Christina Faulkner

Newton Volunteer Fire Department responded to a house fire on Brackin Mill Road in Newton early Tuesday morning around 3 a.m. Unfortunately for the property owner, the structure was a complete loss; however, no occupants were in the building at the time of the fire, resulting in no loss of life or injury.

Volunteer Newton firefighter, Charles Zeigler, speaking on behalf of Fire Chief Edward Snow, said the call came in at 2:52 a.m. after a passerby saw the blaze. Upon arrival, the structure was completely engulfed in flames.

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Ozark Resident Raising Awareness for Humanitarian Need in Ukraine

By Christina Faulkner

Atlanta native and Ozark resident Stephen Rollins is working to raise awareness of the need for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Rollins says meeting the people of Ukraine, knowing their faith in God, and witnessing the horrors that have befallen them at the hands of Russian soldiers have led him on this mission. Rollins says four key organizations are making a difference in Ukraine and is asking those who are capable to help them continue their work.

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Ariton Downs Long in Top 5 Class 2A Matchup

By Brandon Faulkner

Jordan Smith led the number five ranked Purple Cats to a 34-18 win over number three, G.W. Long, in a Class 2A, Region 2 showdown Friday night. Ariton improved to 2-0 in Class 2A, Region 2, and 3-1 overall, while the Rebels fell to 1-1 in Class 2A, Region 2, and 3-1 overall. The Purple Cats are 5-1 against the Rebels in their last six meetings.

Ariton jumped to a 6-0 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter off a 59-yard touchdown run by Ian Senn. Long blocked the PAT kick.

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Guffeys Make Ozark New Hometown

By Christina Faulkner

When Ricky and Kimberly Guffey first came to the Wiregrass, they did not expect to discover a new hometown and open a business.

The Guffeys were the 40% owner of Timberline Homes in Dothan. However, after coming to the area, they discovered Ozark was the community in which they wanted to continue raising their three younger children, ages 15, 13, and 8. The Guffeys have three adult children who live in North Alabama.

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Wallace Community College-Dothan Holds Phillip J. Hamm Library Grand Reopening Ceremony

Special to The Southern Star

Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD) held a grand reopening ceremony for the newly remodeled Phillip J. Hamm Library on the Wallace Campus in Dothan on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Chancellor Jimmy Baker was in attendance for the event, which celebrated the $1.8 million renovation project and demonstrated WCCD’s commitment to excellence by meeting the educational resources needs of today’s students, faculty, and community.

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Dale County Commission Chair Elected To Statewide Association Legislative Committee

Montgomery— Dale County Commission Chair Steve McKinnon has been elected to serve as a member of the 2022-2023 Legislative Committee of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA), the statewide association representing Alabama’s 67 county governments.

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Ozark Promoting Downtown with Billboards on Andrews Avenue

By Christina Faulkner

The City of Ozark is on a mission to promote its downtown and the events held there. Pursuing this effort, the City Council, the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Ozark Dale County Economic Development Corporation came together to apply for grants and other funding to pay for two back-to-back billboards promoting Ozark. The billboards are situated on Andrews Avenue, coming from Fort Rucker. 

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Fuqua Bankston Hosts First Responders for 9-11 Remembrance Celebration

By Christina Faulkner

Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home hosted its 5th Annual 9-11 First Responders Appreciation Day on Friday, September 9. Over 300 first responders, municipal workers, and veterans attended the annual event where fallen first responders from Dale County were recognized during a brief program, and lunch was shared.

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Newton Elementary Makes History: Named 2022 Blue Ribbon School

By Christina Faulkner

 

Newton Elementary School was one of only five schools in Alabama recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School this past week. The excitement and pride within the Newton School gymnasium were palpable as the announcement was made by Superintendent Ben Baker Friday morning, September 16, with cheers and applause from the staff and student body.

“This national recognition is given to elite schools across the United States based on a school’s overall academic performance,” Baker said.

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Wallace Baseball Selects Jackson Glover as Coach Oppert Scholarship Recipient

Special to The Southern Star

Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD) has awarded the 2022 Coach Johnny Oppert Scholarship to Governors baseball player Jackson Glover. The scholarship is named in honor of Coach Johnny Oppert, the first head coach of the Gov’s baseball program, and Wallace basketball coach and athletic director. The scholarship is given to a baseball student who exemplifies the qualities of outstanding character and athletic excellence for which Coach Oppert is known.

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Daleville Squeaks by Northside Methodist

By Brandon Faulkner

Daleville defeated Northside Methodist 16-15 Friday, September 16, to improve to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in Class 3A, Region 2.

The Knights struck first off a 5-yard touchdown run by Johnathan Steinfeld to go up 6-0. Harrison Hicks connected with Caleb Watkins for the two-point conversion to give Northside Methodist an 8-0 lead. The Warhawks answered on a three-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion by Omarion Pinckney to tie the game 8-8.

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Lifetime Show of Tim Richardson Now on Display

By Christina Faulkner

The Ann Rudd Art Museum in downtown Ozark is hosting a Lifetime Show of local artist Tim Richardson’s work. The Lifetime Show highlights Richardson’s work using a variety of mediums, from the polyurethane Tyrannosaurus Rex skull displayed in the front window of the gallery to the most recent acrylics Richardson has painted in the last three years.

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Renovation of Historic AAC Brown Building Begins

By Christina Faulkner

Enterprise State Community College and the Alabama Aviation College celebrated the official beginning of a revitalization project to the AAC campus’ oldest building on Thursday, September 15. Local educators, school officials, industry partners, and city officials joined the daughter of James Douglas Brown, Sr., for whom the building was named, and her family to commemorate the beginning of the $5 million project.  

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Ozark Man Charged with Rape and Child Sexual Abuse After Sting

Statement from Dale County Sheriff's Office

Yesterday, Dale County Sheriff’s Office received a call for assistance from Tallahassee PD yesterday in reference to an online undercover operation involving electronic solicitation of children.  TPD informed us that they were communicating with an individual in Ozark who was soliciting sexual contact from children from an undercover officer. Based on this information we executed a search warrant on the suspect's residence in Ozark. As a result of that search warrant and interviewing other individuals additional evidence was uncovered that led us to charge Jeremy Morris with Rape 1st, Sexual Abuse 1st of a Child Under 12 (2counts) and Sodomy 1st (2 counts). Morris is currently in the Dale County Jail awaiting his 1st appearance. We do anticipate additional charges once forensic analysis are completed on the suspect’s electronic devices. We were assisted by Tallahassee Police Department, Ozark Police Department, SBI and the Dale County District Attorney’s Office. 

Chief Deputy Mason Bynum

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Warriors Defeat Rebels

Lakendrick Jordan led Dale County to a 26 – 22 victory over G. W. Long Friday night, September 23. Jordan had 20 carries for 131 yards and one touchdown and had an interception he returned for a score. Christian Ross had 13 carries for 98 yards and one touchdown. Ross also had two receptions for 52 yards. Dallas Hedstrom went 3-of-6 passing for 83 yards and one touchdown. Junior Smith had one reception for 31 yards and one touchdown.

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Local Church Celebrates 150th Anniversary with Mayor’s Proclamation

Submitted by Heather Cohen

Mayor Blankenship was joined Thursday, September 22, 2022, by Pastor Leonard T. Evans and members of First Missionary Baptist Church. Blankenship read and presented a proclamation celebrating the 150th anniversary of their church to members of the church. 

Read the proclamation below: 

Proclamation

First Missionary Baptist Church 150th Anniversary

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Tiny Houses Village Approved Through Economic Development Donation

By Christina Faulkner

Ozark City Council approved moving forward with a project proposal for a Tiny House Village from KALIA Construction, LLC during Tuesday’s council meeting held on September 20. The project will include the donation of property owned by the city and located adjacent to the community pool. Planned construction for five tiny homes at a time; the overall project could include up to 50 homes consisting of 500 square feet each. 

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United Way Bus Tour Makes Stop at VBAS

By Christina Faulkner

The students at Vivian B. Adams School in Ozark were entertained and delighted during the United Way Fall Campaign Bus Tour on Thursday, September 22. Reaching the halfway point in their tour of the six-county service area, the United Way representatives arrived to cheers from the Ariton and G.W. Long High School Cheerleaders and music performed by the Carroll High School Jazz Band.

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