By Christina Faulkner

The girl who was always at school, who loved school will finally be leaving school this summer as Dr. Danelle Peterman, who has been principal at D.A. Smith Middle since 2011, wraps up her 30-year career in education. As she retires from Ozark City Schools, Jermaine Shakespeare, a native of Andalusia, will step up to take her place.

“I know I can just pass everything over to him,” says Peterman of Shakespeare. She says he has been observing her and is prepared to take over.

By Travis Parker

On May 2nd, the Daleville High School Junior ROTC held their annual awards ceremony in the cafeteria. CW4 (Ret) Nate Barley acted as Master of Ceremonies and spoke highly of his cadets. The Color Guard’s Presentation of Colors was followed by an invocation. A short demonstration by the drill team preceded the awards. They recently placed second and fourth in state competition.

Some of the Awards presented:

By J.D. Devine

The Carroll High School (CHS) Lady Eagles’ varsity softball team played their hearts out at the 5A Area 3 Tournament hosted at Rehobeth High School on Tuesday, May 2. The Lady Eagles faced off against the Eufaula Tigers in an intense matchup.

The Eagles led in the first inning with two runs. However, the Eufaula Tigers tied the game up during the second inning and then kicked things into high gear, scoring eight additional runs in the third.

By Christina Faulkner

With volunteerism dwindling in today’s society, Ozark Emergency Medical Services is preparing for the future. Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship and EMS Deputy Director, Kristy Clark spoke to Rotarians at last Tuesday’s meeting on April 25.

“We made some major changes to our EMS program a while back,” Blankenship said in his introduction of Clark. “We went back to a public safety director and named Charles Ward to that position.”

By Christina Faulkner

First Ozark United Methodist Church was host to the National Day of Prayer Breakfast held on Thursday, May 4. This year’s speaker was Henry County Probate Judge David Money, who spoke on how God has worked in his life.

Signed into law in 1952, the National Day of Prayer is a day when people of all faiths are asked to pray for the leaders of our nation.  Title 36, Section 119 of US law states:

By Christina Faulkner and J.D. Devine

The verdict is in. Sentencing has been passed down. Coley McCraney was found guilty on all charges against him in the 1999 murders of JB Beasley and Tracie Hawlett on Wednesday, April 26. After just 13 minutes of deliberation McCraney was sentenced to serve life in prison without parole on Thursday, April 27.

By Christina Faulkner

The Dale County Commission approved a capital expense for a video camera system for the Dale County Government building in a 3-1 vote during the Commission meeting held Tuesday, April 25. The system is expected to cost $12,226 and consists of four video cameras to be placed on the rear of the building, in the solid waste lobby, and two in the commission meeting room.

By J.D. Devine

The CHS boys and girls soccer teams faced off against Eufaula on Wednesday, April 26, in the game that determined whether they would make it to the playoffs. Both teams clinched region titles with wins over rival Eufaula.

In the girls' game, the Lady Eagles celebrated a shutout victory as they allowed Eufaula no opportunities to score a goal. They wasted no time as they beat the Lady Tigers 10-0. 

By J.D. Devine

The long-awaited capital murder trial of Coley McCraney is underway. McCraney has been held without bond in the Dale County Jail since his March 2019 arrest. He is accused of the 1999 double murders of 17-year-olds J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett. He is also charged with the rape of J.B. Beasley. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is prosecuting the case at the request of Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams. 

By Christina Faulkner

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) students at Bridge Academy, Dale County Schools, were treated to a visit from Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) provider Survival Flight of Dothan on Friday, April 14. Survival Flight critical care registered flight nurse, Mark Reynolds, and critical care nurse and paramedic Jason Trammell spent time training and going through basic exercises with students.

By J.D. Devine

Carroll High School’s (CHS) boys and girls soccer teams had a winning streak this past week as they faced off against Greenville, Charles Henderson, and G.W. Long as region play comes to a close. 

On Monday, April 17, the Eagles’ boys team faced off against region opponent Greenville in a shutout victory for CHS. The Eagles swept Greenville, 10-0.

By Christina Faulkner

Dale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is seeking volunteers to become members of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) within the county. Rather than wait for the government to respond, which can take three days or longer, citizens can rely on their local CERT teams in the event of a natural disaster or other emergencies.

By J.D. Devine

The small community of Dadeville, AL, which has a population of only 3,200 and is located approximately 57 miles northeast of Montgomery, is in shock after a gunman interrupted a “sweet 16” birthday party at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio and opened fire on Saturday night, April 16. 

By Christina Faulkner

By Christina Faulkner

Members of three churches in Ozark came together to observe Good Friday on April 7. Located on what is known as holy hill in Ozark, St. John’s Catholic Church, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, and Westview United Methodist Church each hosted four to five stations of the fourteen Stations of the Cross.

By J.D. Devine

The Carroll High School varsity soccer teams visited Eufaula for a regional game on March 29. The Lady Eagles had arrived ready and swept the Eufaula Tigers, while the boys played a close game throughout but fell late in the final half.

By Christina Faulkner

By Christina Faulkner

Kaylle Rosales did not think beyond the potential financial benefits toward her plans for college when it came to participating in the Dale County Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) program, but she soon learned the program offered so much more than a scholarship. Rosales spoke to Ozark Rotary Club members about her experience with the program on Tuesday, March 28.

FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Fort Rucker will be officially redesignated Fort Novosel in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel, Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient with ties to Army Aviation, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, and the Wiregrass region in southeast Alabama, during a ceremony April 10 at Veterans Park on post. 

By J.D. Devine

If you need a job, then you are in luck! Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) and Alabama Aviation College (AAC) hosted career fairs on Tuesday, March 21. The first career fair was held at the campus of ESCC and lasted from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. The AAC also hosted another career fair from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Ozark aviation campus. Both events were well attended by large numbers of potential applicants and representatives from a wide variety of companies.

By J.D. Devine

The Carroll High School (CHS) Lady Eagles varsity softball team soared beyond the reach of the Eufaula Lady Tigers in the March 21 away game. The Eagles arrived prepared to win.

by Maggie Edwards

Agricultural advocacy took center stage on Capitol Hill during the Washington Legislative Conference (WLC) March 7-10, as passion and patriotism sent 140 Alabama Farmers Federation members to Washington, D.C. 

It was Chambers County farmer Jason McKay’s first WLC. He’s a partner in RL&M Cattle and RL&M Ag Services in Cusseta.