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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

 By Christina Faulkner

A partnership between South Dale Middle School and the City of Pinckard blossomed into being with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Wednesday, May 24, at the new running track behind the Dale County school. School and town officials gathered with pageant queens and soldiers from Fort Novosel’s Lyster Army Medical Clinic for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

By Willie Worsham, Dale County EMA Director, and Christina Faulkner

The Atlantic hurricane season begins today, June 1, and ends on November 30, with its peak around September 10. Based upon the current 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook, there will be 11-15 named storms, 4-8 hurricanes, and 1-3 major hurricanes, with 2-4 making a direct impact on the U.S. As this time of year comes around, it is important for those along and near coastal areas to be prepared, as it only takes one storm to greatly affect a region.

By Christina Faulkner

According to a press release received from the Alabama Department of Revenue, 128 municipalities are noncompliant and no longer allowed to levy taxes in their police jurisdiction. This includes several municipalities in Dale County.

The Alabama Department of Revenue posted a notice on May 15, 2023, informing taxpayers that the 128 municipalities referenced above failed to file an annual report required by Al Code State Statute 11-51-91 (2020).

Staff Reports

The State of Alabama is seeing record lows in unemployment rates with April at 2.2%, a decrease of .3% from April 2022.

In a written statement, Governor Kay Ivey said, “Yet again, we see the resiliency of our state’s workforce. When Alabama works, Alabama families thrive, and records are broken time and time again.”

The number of unemployed people in the state in April set a new low as well at just 51,462, down almost 4,700 from last year.