By Michelle Mann

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(Editor’s Note: Reprinted from the Southeast Sun with permission.)

The Dale County Distinguished Young Woman will join high school seniors from across Alabama to participate in the DYW of Alabama program to be held in Montgomery Jan. 21 and 22.

Fifty-six high school students from Dale County and Ozark City schools will present Newsies at Flowers Center for the Performing Arts.  The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. Feb. 8, 10, 11 and 12. 

“It’s really a community effort that showcases the talent of the Wiregrass,” Margie Benson, director said. “They’ve been working after school and on weekends since late September, and they’re truly committed.”

By Christopher Mobley

Dale County Circuit Judge William Filmore has decided to consider on a situation-by-situation basis what testimony will be allowed during the controversial trial of Cole Lewis McCraney, a truck driver and preacher, who is charged with murdering two Dothan teens in 1999. 

By Christopher Mobley

A letter was posted on the door of the office of Andrews Avenue Animal Hospital, stating that Dr. Richard Timothy Logan would no longer be associated with the veterinary clinic as of January 10, 2022. If no replacement veterinarian is found by January 31, 2022, the veterinary office will be closed. 

By Christopher Mobley

A $6 million lawsuit against the City of Ozark by a man who was wrongfully accused of murdering his wife has been dismissed. 

U.S. Chief District Judge Emily Marks has ruled that Harris’ constitutional rights had not been violated and also dismissed claims that he is a victim of malicious prosecution.

Harris filed the suit against the City of Ozark, its Chief of Police, and a former Ozark police investigator, claiming his arrest was due to their negligence.

(Editor’s Note: The following article is reprinted from auburntigers.com) AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn University students who camped outside Auburn Arena on a frigid Friday night chanted “No. 1” Saturday as the second-ranked Tigers defeated No. 12 Kentucky 80-71, Auburn’s 15th straight win.

“That game and that environment lived up to anybody’s expectations,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “It’s the sum of our parts. We got really great contributions from everybody.”

(Editor’s Note: The following article is reprinted from rolltide.com.) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men’s basketball team outscored Missouri 30-9 over the final 10-plus minutes to take down Tigers, 86-76, in Coleman Coliseum Saturday night. It was the Crimson Tide’s second consecutive victory as it improved to 13-6 overall and 4-3 in Southeastern Conference play.

By Christopher Mobley

Last week, Ozark Police Department arrested a 17-year-old suspect for assault and theft at a local business. 

On Tuesday, January 18, Ozark police officers responded to a vehicle theft in progress at the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts located on Andrews Avenue. Officers received the initial call around 9 p.m. As police officers approached the scene, the teen suspect allegedly struck the owner of the vehicle before driving away. According to the Ozark Police Department, the owner sustained moderate injuries from the attack. 

Dale County voters chose to renew a tax that has supported schools in the county for more than 100 years in a special election held January 11. 

Votes were officially tallied by the Dale County Probate Judge, Sheriff Wally Olson, and the Dale County Clerk of Circuit Court on January 21 at the Dale County Courthouse. 

With just 1,300 voters going to the polls for the special election, just a small fraction of Dale County’s registered voters participated in approving the tax. However, voters approved each of the school taxes. Below are the results.

By Christina Faulkner

Longtime Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson announced his intentions to retire at the end of his current term on Wednesday, January 19 just days before the deadline to qualify for the Republican primaries. Olson, who has served as Sheriff for 15 years, says the decision came after having a conversation with his 16-year-old daughter and months of prayer and contemplation.