1. Literacy Act requirements take effect

    By J.D. Devine

    This year, as students all across Alabama return to school, parents should be aware of new literacy guidelines and retention requirements set to take effect for the 2023-2024 school year.

    The Alabama Literacy Act of 2019 requires schools to implement more stringent literacy requirements for students. One component of the law that has some parents concerned is the requirement that all schools in the state retain third-grade students who fail to read at grade level by the end of the school year. 

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  2. Dale County Pregnancy Center celebrates new location

    By J.D. Devine

    Dale County Pregnancy Center (DCPC) celebrated the opening of its new facilities with an open house held Tuesday, July 25. Members of the board of directors and staff greeted guests, served tasty refreshments, and provided tours of the new location.

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  3. Johnson improves knowledge to help citizens

    By Christina Faulkner

    The Dale County Commission reviewed and approved Chief Probate Clerk Keisha W. Johnson’s position with the Dale County Probate Office on Tuesday, July 25. Johnson recently completed the Basic Law for Probate Judges Course administered by the Alabama Law Institute and the Alabama Probate Judges Association, and was awarded her Certificate of Completion by Michael Hill, Senior Attorney, Alabama Law Institute, and Honorable Greg Cain, President, Alabama Probate Judges Association.

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  4. Ozark hosts charity pickleball tournament

    By J.D. Devine

    Ozark hosted its first charity pickleball tournament July 22-23 at the Ozark Pickleball and Sports Complex. 65 people from as far away as Eufaula participated in the event.

    Ozark Leisure Services partnered with Ozark Community Pickleball to hold the city’s first Charity  Pickleball Tournament. The registration fees collected from every player in the tournament were donated to the Ozark Boys and Girls Club (BGC).

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  5. State lawmakers pass new congressional map

    By J.D. Devine

    Alabama lawmakers worked last week on drawing a new map that redefines its congressional districts. State lawmakers were sent scrambling after a federal court order, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court mandated the Alabama Legislature to redraw its congressional districts so “minority voters do not have less of an opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice” in at least two Alabama districts. 

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  6. Ozark City Schools prepare for back to school with open houses

    By Christina Faulkner

    Ozark City Schools will host open houses for the upcoming school year this week and next. Additionally, the dress code for this school year has been released. Friday, August 4, is the first day of school.

    Lisenby Primary School will have an open house today, July 27, for Pre-K at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Next week Kindergarten 1st and 2nd grade will have an open house on Wednesday, August 2. Kindergarten will start at 3 p.m., 1st grade at 4 p.m. and 2nd grade at 4:30 p.m.

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  7. Deidra Thomas selected to be Mixon’s assistant principal

    By J.D. Devine

    On July 19, Ozark City Schools (OCS) announced that Deidra Thomas would become Mixon Intermediate School’s new assistant principal. Her appointment comes after Leigh Lawrence McGee (“McGee”) was recently named the principal of the school. This comes as every school within OCS has new principals and/or assistant principals.

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  8. Excellent relationships drive success of Sheriff’s Office

    By Christina Faulkner

    Chief Deputy Kyle Anderson emphasized the excellent relationships that have led to the successes behind the exciting updates he shared with the Ozark Rotary Club earlier this month. 

    “This year has been pretty big with a new sheriff in town,” Anderson said. “Sheriff [Mason] Bynum is a great guy. We’re excited about what the future holds for the sheriff’s office.”

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  9. Wallace offers selection of free courses in various trade careers

    By J.D. Devine

    Currently, Wallace Community College’s Workforce Development Program offers a wide variety of workforce training courses at no cost. These courses are designed to help those entering their chosen career field as well as earn college credentials and even credit toward a full certification or degree program.

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  10. Heroes recognized for saving a life

    By Christina Faulkner

    Two of Ozark’s Emergency Medical Service Personnel were recognized for their efforts to save a life at the Ozark City Council meeting held Tuesday, July 11. Mayor Mark Blankenship presented the City of Ozark’s Certificate of Excellence Award to Savana Haywood and Daniel Murphy for providing compassionate and professional care for the citizens of Dale County for their exemplary performance in saving a life on May 6.

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  11. Dale County Schools awarded mental health grant

    By J.D. Devine

    Dale County Schools (DCS) was awarded the Stronger Connections Grant from the Alabama State Department of Education. DCS Superintendent Ben Baker announced that the grant would allow the system to hire a full-time mental health counselor to help meet the needs of students in Dale County Schools.

    “The competitive grant has a value of $391,880.00 and will be used to support mental health services for schools across the DCS system,” Baker said.

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  12. County paving projects in progress

    By Christina Faulkner

    Dale County Road and Bridge started their Fiscal Year 23 Rebuild project Tuesday, July 11, with paving on County Road 50. Dale County Engineer Matthew Murphy made the announcement during the regularly scheduled July 11 meeting.

    According to Murphy, the paving of CR-50 begins at State Route 123 and ends at CR-15, a total of 4.43 miles.

    The county will pave a total of 11.05 miles with this year’s paving project, says Murphy.

    Those miles include the following roads.

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  13. Alabama to resume executions 

    By J.D. Devine

    Alabama is set to resume executions this month after the State Supreme Court authorized the execution by lethal injection of an inmate this summer, and Governor Kay Ivey has set a July 20-21 date for the execution of James Barber. The state is moving forward with restoring its process of carrying out capital punishment following Ivey’s order to halt all executions last fall, pending a full review after a series of failed or “botched” executions.

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  14. One final meeting may save Dale County Genealogical and Historical Society

    By Christina Faulkner

    A group vital to preserving Dale County’s history is looking for new members and a way to avoid disbanding the historical group. The Dale County Genealogical and Historical Society made a $15,210.28 donation to the Ozark Dale County Library Peyton Van Dorn Deese Genealogy Room on Wednesday, July 12, in consideration of disbanding as membership and attendance at the monthly meetings dwindles.

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  15. Ozark hosts Red, White, and Blues Festival

    By. J.D. Devine

    The Ozark Civic Center was packed Sunday night, July 2, as guests attended the Red, White, and Blues Fest. The music festival featured entertainers, such as Pokey Bear; King George; Karen Wolfe; LJ Echols; the Live in the Flesh band; Uncle Daddy, AKA Erealist; Rizo Matic; and other talented performers.

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  16. County breaks ground on Road & Bridge addition

    By Christina Faulkner

    The Dale County Commission and Dale County Road and Bridge broke ground on a new addition to the current Road and Bridge Maintenance facility located on County Road 30 on Thursday, July 6. The 2400-square-foot addition will house the department’s office personnel, engineers, and managers saving the county time and money.

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  17. Ozark students attend Boys, Girls State

    By. J.D. Devine

    Last month, two boys and one girl from Carroll High School (CHS) attended the annual American Legion Alabama Boys and Girls State. CHS juniors Leo Bruce and D.J. Colby attended Boys State while Tenley White participated in Girls State. 

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  18. Lori Lucien joins OneEagle family

    By. J.D. Devine

    When the students return to school in August, there will be new faces in administration at every school within the Ozark City Schools (OCS) system. Carroll High School (CHS) has welcomed Mrs. Lori Lucien to serve as an assistant principal and the Freshman Academy director following the departure of Dr. Alexcia Moore. 

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  19. Ozarkian wins 2nd World Championship Domino Tournament Singles title

    Staff Reports

    Norman Turner has played in all but two of the Andalusia Rotary Club’s 47 World Championship Domino Tournaments, and on Friday, July 7, he won the Single Championship for the second time.

    Turner, who lives in Ozark, also won the title in 1990.

    This year, Turner defeated Devin Rambo in the finals to win the 2023 title. He said the victory was “extra sweet” because he lost to Rambo in the doubles finals last year.

    Turner brought home the $5,000 purse and a championship belt.

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  20. Fort Novosel celebrates the 4th of July with Freedom Fest 2023

    By Travis Parker

    Despite the heat index being in the low 100’s on Friday, June 30, a huge crowd attended the latest Freedom Fest and the first one held under the new name of Ft. Novosel. Chris Mendez with MWR was extremely pleased with the event and was all over the place during the afternoon and evening making sure that it was running smoothly. Organizers expected the attendance to easily top the 12,000 number from last year as they continuously strive to make the event the top Independence Day place-to-be in the Wiregrass.

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  21. Fireworks at the Fairgrounds benefit Wiregrass United Way

    By J.D. Devine

    Dothan–Tens of thousands of people braved the heat and a brief stray shower to celebrate Independence Day the Southern way at the National Peanut Festival (NPF) Fairgrounds. Guests devoured delicious food, such as watermelon, corn dogs, hotdogs, funnel cakes, Bluebell Ice Cream, and, of course, Southern boiled peanuts. There were also plenty of amusement rides, escape mazes, and more. Live entertainment kept the guests dancing and swaying to the music, and the beautiful fireworks display was completely captivating. 

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  22. AMVETS celebrate Summer Fest in Daleville

    By Travis Parker

    Summer Fest ’23, the first of what they intend to be an annual event by Southeast Alabama AMVETS Post 7, was held on Saturday, July 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

    Trying to beat the day's heat, the event kicked off earlier than most, yet the heat index was still over 100 degrees when it ended. 

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  23. Inspiring the next generation of aviators through stories of Army Aviation

    By Christina Faulkner

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  24. Leisure Services opening fall sports registration soon

    By. J.D. Devine

    As the city’s spring athletic programs have ended, Ozark’s Department of Leisure Services is already gearing up for registration for the city’s fall athletic programs.

    If you or your children want to participate in Ozark’s athletic programs this fall, be prepared to register once the department begins accepting applications on July 5.

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  25. Emmett Massey Named ADA of the Year

    Staff Reports

    Thirty-third Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Daniel Emmett Massey IV was named the Alabama Assistant District Attorney of the Year by the Alabama District Attorney's Association (ADAA) during the ADAA’s summer conference in Orange Beach held this past weekend, June 22-25.  Massey was awarded the Larry E. Smith Award for his outstanding service.

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  26. Southern Star earns Most Improved from Alabama Press Association

    By Christina Faulkner

    The Southern Star was recognized as the most improved paper in Alabama Division C this past weekend at the Alabama Press Association Annual Summer Convention held at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach on June 24. The Southern Star received a total of four awards for its outstanding work.

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  27. Grocery tax cut signed into law

    By. J.D. Devine

    Alabamians will soon see relief at the grocery store after Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a reduction in the state’s taxes on groceries.

    The new law will reduce the state’s 4% tax on groceries to 3% beginning September 1. Ivey’s office announced that an additional 1% reduction is possible for 2024 if the state’s budget estimates remain consistent.

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  28. U.S. House, Senate rush to reauthorize Farm Bill

    By J.D. Devine

    The 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization is moving along as a divided Congress works to find compromises in order to pass the omnibus bill before its looming deadline of September 30. Since the U.S. House of Representatives is controlled by a Republican majority and the U.S. Senate has a Democratic majority, the negotiations thus far have proved tricky.

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  29. Carroll High School’s Lady Eagles and D.A. Smith’s girl's basketball teams practice with Pike Co. Lady Bulldogs

    By J.D. Devine

    The Carroll High School Lady Eagles and D.A. Smith’s girl's basketball teams have been hard at work this summer, training and preparing so they can be the best they can possibly be for the upcoming season in the fall.

    Carroll High School’s Varsity and JV Girls’ basketball team, along with the D. A. Smith Girls Basketball team, joined in with Coach Melissa White and her Lady Bulldogs of Pike County for a practice session.

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  30. Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration a reminder of the freedoms we celebrate

    By Christina Faulkner

    Ozark’s inaugural Juneteenth Community Celebration was a successful celebration Monday, June 19, as community members came together to celebrate freedom, enjoy music and fellowship, and reflect on the history of the holiday just recently recognized by the federal government.

    Boasting free admission, games, food, face painting, music, and prizes, the Juneteenth Community Celebration was a time for all of Ozark to come together and celebrate.

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  31. Dinner and conversation show Daleville headed for great things

    By Christina Faulkner

    Daleville’s mayor, Jayme Stayton, was joined by two city council members, Jo Reese, and Kevin Turley, as he gathered with citizens for dinner and conversation at Don’t Stay Hungry on Daleville Avenue on Thursday, June 15. The quarterly dinner is a casual atmosphere during which the community comes together to meet their leadership, hear about the city’s upcoming projects and plans for the future, and have some of their questions answered.

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  32. McCraney sentenced to life without parole

    By. J.D. Devine

    Coley McCraney was formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by Circuit Judge William Filmore on Thursday, June 15. Fillmore pronounced the formal sentence that the jury recommended following the April trial. 

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  33. Local Hospital CEO Elected to Statewide Office

    MONTGOMERY, AL – Vernon Johnson, CEO of Dale Medical Center, Ozark, was recently elected to the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) Board of Trustees as the Secretary-Treasurer. The election took place at the Association’s annual meeting last week.

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  34. Women Veterans Day celebrated at Library

    By. J.D. Devine

    Mayor Mark Blankenship celebrated and honored women veterans with a special proclamation declaring June 12, 2023, Women Veterans Day in Ozark, Alabama. Though Women Veterans Day is not an official federal or Alabama holiday, Ozark, along with Daleville, is proud to be at the forefront in recognizing the importance of celebrating our women veterans.

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  35. Dale County deputy receives national recognition for excellence

    By Christina Faulkner

    Heidi De Ridder, Jail Supervisor and Sex Offender Registry Notification Act officer for the Dale County Sheriff's Office, received national recognition recently for her role in overseeing the county’s 173 active registered sex and violent offenders. OffenderWatch recognized De Ridder for excellence in meeting the sex offender registry (SOR) objectives and being dedicated and passionate about protecting her community.

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  36. City employees satisfied overall reveals survey

    By Christina Faulkner

    The results of an employee survey were revealed at the Ozark City Council meeting held Tuesday, June 6. According to Mayor Mark Blankenship, 145 full-time employees responded to the voluntary survey in nine departments indicating an overall level of satisfaction and some areas where improvement can be made.

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  37. Annual ACAP scores released

    By. J.D. Devine

    Alabama schools participated in a statewide test of their second and third-graders’ reading abilities. According to the results, Alabama’s second and third-graders are reading at a slightly lower level of proficiency than last year.

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  38. Ivey signs bills funding state budget, expanding education choice

    By. J.D. Devine

    Montgomery–Alabama Governor Kay Ivey held a number of signing ceremonies last week as she signed a series of bills into law. The flurry of bills includes the general and education budget as well as legislation that expands education choice in the state and eliminates the state income tax on all overtime pay for hourly workers.

    The bill-signing marathon comes as Alabama lawmakers head home after the end of the year’s legislative session.

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  39. American Legion holds Election and Workday

    By Travis Parker

    Last Saturday, June 3, The Ozark American Legion Post 82 had their monthly meeting and a work day afterwards. Various new projects were discussed to include the Women Veterans Day, the upcoming pancake breakfast, and the work day planned for after the meeting.

    The new officers elected were: Commander J. Elaine McLeod, Vice Commander Travis Parker, Adjutant Robert May, and Sgt. at arms, Max Corbin. Appointed were Membership Chair Bruce Williamson and Chaplain Sam Williams. Membership is now up to 61 members with a few new ones coming soon.

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  40. USDA disaster relief for mid-March freeze available in designated counties

    By J.D. Devine

    Farmers in a number of Alabama counties whose crops were negatively impacted by the freezing temperatures experienced March 18-20 may be eligible for special disaster relief granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Commissioner Rick Pate of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) both announced that a request for a disaster declaration has been approved by USDA Sec. Vilsack. 

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  41. All In Credit Union to acquire SunSouth Bank

    Staff Reports

    Daleville, AL – May 31, 2023 – All In Credit Union (“All In”), headquartered in Daleville, AL, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Dothan, AL-based SunSouth Bank, the banking subsidiary of SunSouth Bancshares, Inc. The transaction will be structured as a purchase and assumption transaction, and the consideration will be all-cash. Other financial terms were not disclosed.

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  42. First Juneteenth Community Celebration Day to be held in Ozark

    By Christina Faulkner

    Ozark Mayor, Mark Blankenship signed a proclamation Wednesday, May 31 declaring June 19 as Ozark Juneteenth Community Celebration Day. Blankenship read and presented the proclamation to Winnie Frazier, coordinator of the Ozark Juneteenth Celebration in front of City Hall where they were joined by members of the community and Miss Bronze pageant queens.

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  43. Dale County 4-H Recognizes Winners

    Submitted by County Extension Coordinator Melissa Voynich

    Ozark, AL – June 1, 2023 – The Dale County Extension office celebrated local 4-H Regional Award winners after the competition for Alabama 4-H took place at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia.

    The following students from Dale County schools placed in the competition.

    Emma Dykes placed first in Informative Public Speaking, and Lydia Darley placed Second in the same category. Elise Waltz placed first in Persuasive Public Speaking, as well.

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  44. Melissa Voynich joins Dale County Extension Office

    By Christina Faulkner

    The Dale County Extension office introduced the new County Extension Coordinator, Melissa Voynich at the Dale County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, May 23. Voynich was also introduced to the Ozark City Council on June 6.

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  45. Fort Novosel honors the nation’s fallen

    By Christina Faulkner

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