Staff Reports

Secretary of State Wes Allen was the featured speaker at the Dale County GOP meeting Monday, March 18, 2024.

During Secretary Allen’s remarks to the group, he discussed the topic of election integrity, advocating for the passage of SB1 and providing insight into his testimony before the United States Senate.

By Christina Faulkner

A devastating EF1 tornado, with peak winds reaching 105 mph, wreaked havoc in Dale County during the early morning hours of Saturday, March 9. Spanning a distance of 4.4 miles, the tornado touched down just west of the Mabson Community at 1:40 a.m., leaving behind just over a ½ mile wide trail of destruction.

By Christina Faulkner

A weekend deluge unleashed between 5-8 inches of rain in Dale County, resulting in minor flooding of low-lying areas. The aftermath extended into Sunday morning as the Choctawhatchee River swelled, prompting a flood warning that lingered until Monday morning.

Several areas in Dale County felt the impact, with the river reaching flood stage at 19 feet, particularly affecting farmland in low-lying regions near the riverbanks. The most significant flooding was observed around the Highway 92 bridge in Clayhatchee.

By Caitlynn Cummings

By Christina Faulkner

The recent theft of substantial property from Storage Sense on Andrews Avenue has been successfully resolved by the Ozark Police Department, leading to the arrest of Ian Richman, a 36-year-old resident of Ozark. Richman now faces a litany of charges, including 23 counts of 3rd Degree Burglary, 24 counts of 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief, two counts each of Theft of Property 1st (exceeding $2500), Theft of Property 3rd, and Theft of Property 4th, as well as one count each of Theft of Property 2nd ($500 - $2500) and Trespass 3rd Degree.

The Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual Excellence in Business Awards Thursday, February 22. Chamber members and the community voted through an online survey to select the winners in each category. Pictured (l-r) above are the winners of this year’s awards. Pam Schisler was awarded the Women in Business award. John Cawley holds the Nonprofit Excellence Award bestowed on the Ozark Kiwanis Club. Tami Sapp, Office Manager at Ozark Pediatrics accepted the award for Ozark Pediatrics for Business of the Year.

By Christina Faulkner

Dale County will return to the polls on April 16 for a run-off election between incumbent Dale County Commission Chair Steve McKinnon and Commissioner District 3 Adam Enfinger for Dale County Commission Chairman. Neither candidate brought in enough support to clearly win the race for this position. McKinnon carried 2,699 votes with Enfinger carrying 2,585 votes. The difference between two candidates was a mere 114 votes. Pinckard Mayor Bobby Borland, the third candidate for the ballot carried 17.71% of the total vote.

By Christina Faulkner

The City of Daleville and the Ozark-Dale County Economic Development Corporation (ODEDC) have come together to increase the marketability of the 253-acre Hanchey Field Road industrial site. With ODEDC applying for funding through the Alabama Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act, the City of Daleville agreed to fund the match requirement for the grant.

Over the years, the Hanchey Field Road site has received little attention. ODEDC President Holle Smith believes it’s time for that to change.

By Christina Faulkner

Special Agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) received notification of a suspicious package near the intersection of Washington Avenue and South Bainbridge Street in Montgomery. The agents determined the suspicious package was an explosive device that was detonated in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 24.

There were no injuries or damages to nearby buildings that have been reported to SBI or Montgomery police.

By Christina Faulkner

The Alabama House of Representatives approved a sweeping gambling proposal with an aim to put lottery and casino legislation before voters in November. The measure passed on a 70-32 vote exceeding the required 63 affirmative votes in the House for a proposed change to the Alabama Constitution.

By Christina Faulkner

A recent legal matter concluded in the Ozark Municipal Court, revealing the intricacies of a harassment case between Mayor Mark Blankenship and Bryant Fontenot. The case, which reached its resolution on February 7, revolved around an incident that transpired after a routine city council meeting on January 2. Fontenot faced charges brought forth by Mayor Blankenship, alleging harassment. The legal proceedings provided insights into the complexities of the case, ultimately resulting in Fontenot's acquittal by Judge Barbara Wade.

By Christina Faulkner

During the Ozark City Council Meeting held on Tuesday, February 6, two resolutions introduced by Councilwoman Leah Harlow sparked extensive discussions, ultimately leading to both resolutions being tabled.

By Christina Faulkner

Have you ever heard the story of Arthur “Art” Dodge, III, the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board of Ecore? Yes, Ecore, the company that came to Ozark just over a year ago to recycle tires. But there’s more to the story than just recycling tires. Dodge was in Ozark visiting the plant recently. This will be Dodge’s fourth visit to Ozark, but his first since the plant has been fully operational.

Staff Reports

One local Ozark agency will be among the 63 organization and 97 programs to receive a portion of the almost $6.5 million being presented by the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention to local organizations in Alabama’s 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Congressional Districts today. Joined by state leaders at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Mary Hill Family Service Center of Ozark was among the local organizations that joined state leaders for the presentation of $6,439,500 in grants, receiving a total of $71,000.

The Dollar General located on East Avenue in Ozark will remain closed until further notice after a pick up truck crashed into the front windows earlier today. 

According the Ozark Department of Public Safety Director and Police Chief Charles Ward, the driver of the pick up was parking in front of the store when his foot slipped off the break, causing the vehicle to propel forward through the stone facade column and into the front windows. However, the vehicle did not proceed into the store. 

By Christina Faulkner

The Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce played host to the Ozark Pageant at the Ozark Civic Center, Saturday, January 27. The event showcased the beauty and talent of its contestants, leaving a lasting impression on both participants and attendees alike.

Staff Reports

47-year-old Boyd Phillips met a tragic end during a confrontation with law enforcement officers at his residence on Hub Street earlier today.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was notified of a subject threatening individuals with a knife at the All In Credit Union on Andrews Avenue in Ozark at approximately 10:30 Monday morning. An ALEA Trooper assigned to the Highway Patrol Division attempted to stop the subject, later identified as Boyd Douglas Phillips, of Ozark.

By Christina Faulkner

A former Dale County tennis coach was convicted by a federal jury of unlawfully transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity last week.

Staff Reports

Ozark was named a 2023 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Ozark achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget at least $2 per capita, and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

By Christina Faulkner

Ozark City Schools recently celebrated the dedication and outstanding contributions of its educators and support staff at the Board of Education meeting held on Thursday, January 11. The awards ceremony recognized individuals who have gone above and beyond in their roles, demonstrating a commitment to their students and the school community.