By Christina Faulkner

Dale County Department of Human Resources (DHR) celebrated the birthday of their oldest and longest employed staff member, Barbara Pennington. Pennington, who has worked with DHR for 35 years, turned 80 years of age Thursday, January 6.

Local District Attorneys Kirke Adams (Dale/Geneva), Patrick Jones (Houston/Henry), Tom Anderson (Coffee/Pike) and the City of Ozark co-sponsored the 13th Annual Wiregrass Law Enforcement Conference held at the Ozark Civic Center Friday, December 17.  

By Christina Faulkner

Ozark Animal Control and the Ozark Animal Shelter are planning their Fifth Free Cat Friday for January 14 between 9 am and 5 pm at the Ozark Animal Shelter on Parker Road in Ozark. Shelter Manager, Miranda Daniels, says adoptions are essential to controlling overcrowding at the no-kill, nonprofit shelter. 

By Christina Faulkner

Ozark Police recovered several guns stolen from a home on Porter Andrews Road on Christmas Day. Jonathon Bundy, 28 of Ozark, was arrested after a police pursuit ended in a crash in Troy. 

January 7, 2021 - The Entertainment District in downtown Ozark was alive with people of all ages celebrating New Year’s Eve on Thursday, December 31, 2020. Lillimaggs Butts & Beverages, Live@Harlow’s, Ozark Cigars, Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, and Ozark Economic Development Corporation came together to sponsor the event which included live music, food trucks, beer garden, s’mores at the amphitheater, and even cornhole games.

By: Christopher Mobley

When business partners, Heidi Faulk and Elizabeth Wyse decided to start Ozark Community Tennis in 2019, they had one goal in mind: bringing the sport to those in the community who wish to learn. Not only have they accomplished that goal but have lasted through the pandemic while building their customer base and connecting with their community. This is the work ethic and dedication that led to Ozark Community Tennis being voted Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Month for the month of December. 

(Editor’s Note: Story reprinted from www.AuburnTigers.com)

AUBURN, Ala. – With the shot clock expiring, Wendell Green Jr. tracked down a loose ball at Auburn's end of the court, dribbled thrice and fired a rainbow 50-footer.

Nothing but net. 

"I just lined myself up," said Green, noticing only three seconds remained when he glanced at the shot clock from well beyond half court. "When it went in, I was shocked just like everyone else. It was crazy."

By Christina Faulkner

Alabama legislators have introduced a new bill, the Alabama Heartbeat Act, that will prohibit medical providers from performing abortions once cardiac activity is detected and allowing private citizens to file civil lawsuits against anyone who aids and abets an abortion. Those filing lawsuits will also be eligible to collect at least $10,000 in damages for performed abortions. 

By Christopher Mobley

An Ozark couple, previously arrested for human trafficking and other sex crimes, have now been turned over to federal custody following their indictment by a federal grand jury. 

By: Christopher Mobley

A Level Plains man, who is considered possibly armed and dangerous, is still on the run from the Level Plains police. The fleeing suspect, Dylan Lamar Pritchard, is currently wanted on suspicion of theft, drug possession, and other charges. 

Pritchard is described as a white male with long black hair, approximately 5’ 8”. He also has tattoos on both arms,  and was last reported to be wearing tan pants and shirtless with a handcuff on his right wrist. 

By: Christina Faulkner

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation’s (SBI) Special Victims Unit with the help of the Ozark Police Department and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on an Ozark residence near Campground Road in the early morning hours of Friday, December 10. The search warrant pertained to a child exploitation investigation being conducted by SBI’s SVU. 

By Christina Faulkner

The Ozark Dale County Library introduced their new Children’s Librarian at the Annual Employee Christmas Party held Monday, December 6. Debbie Self, a South Florida native, was announced at the new Children’s Librarian by Library Director, Karen Speck. 

Self and her husband have resided in Dale County for over 20 years, raising their two children in the area.  Both children graduated from Dale County High School.

By Christina Faulkner

Fort Rucker’s First Annual Winter Fest was nothing less than spectacular, from the beautiful sunset that started off the evening to the polka music played by the Sonnenschein Express Band that set the mood for the German style winter festival. The festival was coupled with the post’s traditional tree lighting ceremony held at the festival fields on Friday, December 3 and included the season’s Trees for Troops event.

BY JONATHAN REISMAN

Tony Fauci is America’s senior public health bureaucrat. He is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), where he oversees and greenlights millions of dollars of taxpayer funded research, and Senior Medical Advisor to President Brandon. He is also an egomaniacal serial liar and a power hungry enemy of freedom. If Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was a transgender octogenarian, Tony Fauci is what you would have. 

(Editors Note: Story reprinted from www.RollTide.com)

ATLANTA – In the 30th Southeastern Conference Championship Game, the No. 3/4/2 Alabama football team beat No. 1/1/1 Georgia, 41-24 in Mercedes Benz Stadium Saturday. With the win, the Crimson Tide has now won 29 SEC Championships, including 10 coming via the SEC Championship Game.

By Christina Faulkner

An Ozark counselor has been arrested on charges of Possession with Intent to Disseminate Child Pornography, Attempted Electronic Solicitation of a Child, and Receiving Stolen Property in the 2nd degree. James C. Abshire, Jr., 59, of Newton, was arrested Wednesday, November 24 following an investigation that began in October of this year. 

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — The North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating the 66th Anniversary of tracking Santa’s yuletide journey around the globe! The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, launching Decemeber, features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, movie theater, holiday music, webstore, and more. The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese. 

By Christopher Mobley

During the Ozark City Council Agenda held on Tuesday, November 2, City Council approved culvert repair on Morgan Lane and Sheldon Court. The repairs, which will come in the form of a trenchless system from Vortex. The new system will cost $279,256.25, which will be paid from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act). 

MONTGOMERY - Councilmember Winston Jackson, of Ozark has earned the prestigious professional designation of Certified Municipal Official (CMO) Emeritus, a highly regarded honor awarded to officials who have excelled beyond the requirements of the Basic and Advanced CMO Programs.

(Editors Note: Story reprinted from www.RollTide.com)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 2/2/2 University of Alabama football team racked up 671 yards of total offense to outlast the No. 21/21/22 Arkansas Razorbacks, 42-35, on Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Bryce Young accounted for 559 passing yards, setting the single-game school record while becoming the first player in Crimson Tide history to reach the 500-yard passing milestone.

OZARK, Ala., Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U. S. municipal government leaders are quickly preparing for more uncertainty ahead. Elections and polls have shown Americans have mixed emotions about the government’s pandemic response. People are also facing more uncertainty due to current economic problems and potential social disruptions. Supply shortages, natural disasters, international hackings, and a general fear of what’s ahead are creating a new demand for remote outreach technologies that connect leaders with their constituents.

By Linda Yglesias

When I was three years old in 1952 in Ozark, Alabama, I sat down at the family piano and began to play by ear. My right hand produced the melodies of songs I heard in Sunday School. My left hand found the harmonizing chords. The story ran in the Southern Star, the hometown newspaper founded by Joseph A. Adams 154 years ago, in 1867.