By Adam Kamerer

Ozark’s city council voted on February 1 to approve $54,781 to transform a city-owned building on Parker Road into a new station for the city’s emergency medical services.

Ozark’s EMS workers and ambulances have been housed at the city’s firehouses up until now, but the new station will allow them to move into their own space. “There’s policies and procedures that the fire department has to follow that doesn’t really apply to EMS,” says Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship.

Progress continues on the new Wiregrass RC&D mural. "We're going for a coloring book look on this one. Bright colors," says muralist Wes Hardin. "The theme of this mural is all about 'Community'."

By Adam Kamerer

Human skeletal remains were found off Johntown Road in Ozark on Wednesday, according to the Dale County Coroner’s Office.

John Cawley, Deputy Coroner, says “Two young men riding four-wheelers discovered the remains just off Johntown Road in a wooded area.” The remains are reportedly in a decayed state.

By Adam Kamerer

Lane Kurpes, a sophomore at George W. Long High School, set four state records at a powerlifting meet in Rainbow City on Saturday, February 5.

The Alabama State Powerlifting Championship, held at Willmore Total Fitness in Rainbow City and hosted by the United States Powerlifting Association, was Kurpes’ first powerlifting competition.

16-year-old Kurpes set records in four areas for the 220-pound weight bracket:

Full Squat: 423.4 lbs.

Bench Press: 253 lbs.

Deadlift: 500.5 lbs.

By Adam Kamerer

The Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities donated new watercolor kits to Carroll High School’s art program last week.

Pam Nolin, art instructor, received the donation at the Council’s February 7 meeting. The donation, consisting of $750 worth of professional watercolor paints and watercolor paper, was funded through a local community grant from Walmart.

By Adam Kamerer

A filmmaker from Ozark is directing a new documentary, an inside look at the fandom surrounding Rhett & Link, the comedic duo behind the YouTube talk show Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning has 17.4 million subscribers on YouTube.

By Christina Faulkner

Two of Fort Rucker’s own were presented with the Purple Heart at the Army Aviation Museum in a ceremony held Monday, February 14. Sergeant First Class Carlos Porres, Jr. and Staff Sergeant Deanna Lucchessi both sustained injuries during a January 8, 2020 Iranian ballistic missile attach on Ayr al-Assad Air Base in Iraq. General Paul E. Funk, II presented the award to the two American heroes. 

By Adam Kamerer

MissionPoint has begun work on two new homeless shelters in Ozark.

A building on Martin Street that once housed a men’s shelter is being renovated into a brand-new shelter for women, while a building on Alabama 123, formerly the Plunder Palace thrift store, is being renovated into a new men’s shelter.

By: Christina Faulkner

DOTHAN - A two-vehicle crash that occurred in Houston County Wednesday night, February 16, has claimed the life of a Dale County woman. Teresa A. Melvin, 57, of Newville was the passenger in a 2018 Hyundai Elantra driven by Andrew J. Cooley, 21, of Midland City, when the vehicle in which she was traveling struck the rear of a 2003 Ford Mustang driven by Donald T. Glenn, 41, of Dothan.