Embedded Files
Next Meeting: 10/13/25, 7 PM, Ozark-Dale Library
Dale Co. Courthouse
Dale Co. Courthouse
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Focus on Ozark & Dale County (Post 2024 Election):
Ozark City Schools superintendent announces resignation
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/09/08/ozark-city-schools-superintendent-announces-resignation/
Comment: "In a statement released on Monday, Ozark City Schools superintendent Reeivice Girtman announced that he has notified the school board of his resignation at the end of the school year."
Comment: "The school board has not indicated any immediate plans at this time as it relates to a new superintendent search, but they expect to have someone in place well before the 2026-27 school year, per the release sent out from the superintendents office."
Comment: Although his resignation will be a loss to the community, there should be plenty of time to find a suitable replacement. He gave plenty of notice of his intentions.
Lutheran church in Ozark hosts Neo-confederate group
https://www.alreporter.com/2025/09/04/lutheran-church-in-ozark-hosts-neo-confederate-group/
Comment: "A Neo-confederate group with a controversial mission held monthly meetings at an Ozark Lutheran church, despite the Lutheran Church’s clear stance against racism."
Comment: "A recent Facebook post by the Southern Cultural Center, a Neo-confederate group based in Wetumpka, revealed that the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Ozark hosts monthly meetings for members in its region."
"Pastor Chad Ingle confirmed to APR that he is aware of the monthly meetings taking place in his church. When asked whether he was aware of the group’s recent interest in an all-white settlement and how the SCC mission aligned with church doctrine, Ingle insisted APR come meet face-to-face at the church to discuss the matter. Ingle did not respond to multiple requests for a video call instead."
Comment: " 'The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod condemns racism and asks its members to combat it in the Church and in society, as recorded in eight convention resolutions,' the church’s official website states."
"The Southern Cultural Center does not profess itself to be a racist entity, but just last month invited as its featured speaker Eric Orwoll, the man building an all-white community in Arkansas with hopes to bring a similar settlement here to Alabama."
"Its 'national conferences' have also featured an array of speakers who have openly espoused views that white people are either superior to Black people, or that the two races cannot coexist in a peaceful state."
Comment: "A recap of its most recent national conference last year says that every group is protected by the federal government except for the 'Southern white Christian' and added 'REMEMBER THAT OUR ANCESTORS WERE NOT ONLY HERE IN THE SOUTH BUT ALSO IN GREAT BRITAIN, AND WERE CAUCASIAN.'
"Neo-confederate pastor John Weaver was a speaker as the group’s inaugural national conference in 2022. A profile on Weaver by the Southern Poverty Law Center states 'Weaver was a leading member of the Council of Conservative Citizens, a hate group that opposes interracial marriage and has described black people as a ‘retrograde species of humanity. He also long served as chaplain to the Southern heritage group Sons of Confederate Veterans at a time when its leadership was largely controlled by racist extremists.' ”
Comment: Please note that many of the inflammatory statements in this article are attributed to the Southern Cultural Center leadership, which to our knowledge, is not meeting in Dale County. However, the presence of this group in our county, in any capacity, is alarming. However, before drawing any conclusions, please read the linked article in its entirety, and consider that any use of the physical church building probably does not indicate support from the local congregation. One can be vigilant against racism, but please don't react based solely on this article content, without further investigation and consideration.
WDHN: South Alabama Pro Rodeo rides back Into Ozark August 15–16
https://www.wdhn.com/news/local-news/south-alabama-pro-rodeo-rides-back-into-ozark-august-15-16/
Dothan Municipal Election Results
https://www.wtvy.com/politics/election-results/
Comment: A small portion of southern Dale Co. is inside the Dothan city limits. Here are the Dothan municipal election results from the election held on August 5, 2025. Municipal elections in the rest of Dale Co. will occur on August 26. Please be sure to register and vote if you live in a Dale Co. town or city.
Dothan Voter Deadline Is July 21 – Check Registration Now
Comment: There is a small portion of Dale Co. that resides in the Dothan city limits. Unlike towns in the rest of Dale Co., Dothan's municipal elections will be held on Aug. 5th, 2025, and the last day to register is July 21, 2025.
Comment: For other towns in Dale Co., the municipal elections will be held on Aug. 26th, 2025 and the last day to register is Aug 11th, 2025. For any questions, please contact the city/town clerk in your municipality.
Fort Who? Republicans join House Dems to bar Hegseth's military base name changes
Comment: "The House Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to its annual defense policy bill barring the Pentagon from using any of the funds from next year's defense budget to rename Defense Department installations in honor of Confederate figures."
Comment: What does this mean for Fort Rucker (Fort Novosel?)?
AL.com: Alabama military base redesignation ceremony set for this week after Hegseth orders renaming
Comment: "Fort Rucker is making its name change official Thursday - its second in two years’ time."
Comment: "Fort Rucker was originally named for Confederate Col. Edmund W. Rucker, a brigade commander during the Civil War who fought at Chickamauga, Franklin and Nashville."
Comment: "Then in 2023, the name was changed to Fort Novosel after Enterprise resident Michael Novosel Sr."
Comment: "Novosel was a military aviator for more than 40 years and received the highest military honor for his service in Vietnam. He died in 2006."
Comment: "The base’s new namesake is Capt. Edward W. Rucker, a Missouri native who was called into service in 1916 and saw action in France during World War I."
Comment: "A descendent of Edmund Rucker has spoken out against the renaming."
" 'Rucker family members support naming Army bases for individuals who fought for the United States….we don’t want our name back on an Alabama base,' K. Denise Rucker Krepp, a former House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee senior counsel, posted to X on Tuesday."
" 'Novosel is a Medal of Honor recipient,' Rucker Krepp said in another post to X."
" 'His name should remain on an Alabama base.' "
Dothan Eagle: Meet the candidates for Mayor of Ozark
https://dothaneagle.com/elections/article_4c362ea3-4bf2-4d2b-9d23-9fbfb218b7b2.html
Dothan Eagle: Meet the candidates for mayor of Daleville
https://dothaneagle.com/elections/article_e3e3bf6f-90dc-4681-a5be-dc7f7b171d70.html
Dothan Eagle: 2025 Municipal Elections: Everything you need to know to vote in Coffee and Dale counties
Ward appointed to Alabama Court of the Judiciary | The Southern Star
https://www.ozarkal.news/ward-appointed-alabama-court-judiciary
Comment: "Ozark Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Charles Ward has been appointed to the Alabama Court of the Judiciary by Governor Kay Ivey. His four-year appointment, which required confirmation by the Alabama Senate, places him among a select group of individuals tasked with maintaining the integrity of the state’s judicial system."
WTVY: Dale County Sheriff’s Office to hold DUI checkpoint over holiday weekend
Dothan Eagle: Here is who is on the municipal election ballots in Dale County
WTVY: Houston and Dale County Sheriff’s offices latest to roll out app for residents
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/06/21/houston-dale-county-sheriffs-offices-latest-roll-out-app-residents/
Juneteenth fest takes Ozark by storm
Alabama military base carrying out Trump’s order to change its name - al.com
Comment: "Officials at Fort Novosel in southeast Alabama say they have already started the process of changing its name less than a week after President Donald Trump announced the base will once again be named Fort Rucker."
“No Kings” protest held in Downtown Dothan | WDHN - wdhn.com
https://www.wdhn.com/news/local-news/no-kings-protest-held-in-downtown-dothan/
Comment: Saw at least a half dozen Dale County residents in the hundreds of peaceful protesters outside the Houston Co. courthouse, along with attendees from throughout the Wiregrass and southeast Alabama.
AL.com: Trump reversing Biden name changes at 7 military bases, including this Alabama post
Comment: "President Donald Trump announced he will reverse the Biden administration decision changing the name of the Alabama military base from Fort Novosel to Fort Rucker."
Half of Alabama public schools will see teacher unit cuts from Foundation Program - Alabama Daily News
Comment: "The districts facing the largest proportional losses are small city and rural systems, including many in Alabama’s Black Belt region:
Selma City, down 10%, from 143 to 128 teacher units
Sumter County, down 9%, from 54 to 50
Linden City, down 9%, from 23 to 21
Ozark City, down 7%, from 113 to 105 [Emphasis added]
Lowndes County, down 7%, from 67 to 62"
Daleville Launches Revitalization Plan to Tackle Longtime Eyesores and Community Concerns
Ozark Director of Department of Public Safety puts in a leave of absence to run for mayor
https://share.newsbreak.com/d9v6y1go
Breaking Defense: Army general says deep aviation cuts aren’t set in stone, might ‘walk something back’
Comment: "Army aviation cuts were deeper than anticipated but are not necessarily final, and some programs may be saved after further analysis, according to the commanding general of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence Maj. Gen. Clair Gill."
Comment: Statements may be significant to Dale County because Maj. Gen. Gill is the current commander at Fort Novosel.
Official: Army’s Aviation Cuts ‘Deeper’ Than Expected, Still Working Details On Planned Divestments - Defense Daily
MG Gill Urges Aviation Branch to Embrace Change at AAAA Summit
https://www.army.mil/article/285557/mg_gill_urges_aviation_branch_to_embrace_change_at_aaaa_summit
Comment: " A key component of this transformation, Gill explained, is the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS)."
WTVY: New president selected at Wallace Community College
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/05/15/wallace-community-college-announces-new-president/
Army Vice to aviation community: Cuts hurt, but 'not making them would hurt more’ - Breaking Defense
Comment: " 'We are moving through a generational shift between manned and unmanned systems and from platform-centered to sensor and network-connected,' the four-star general said in prepared remarks for his keynote speech before the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual conference in Nashville, Tenn."
Comment: Any long term impact to Fort Novosel?
U.S. Army Leader: Aviation Cuts Hurt, But Are Necessary | Aviation Week Network
Fort Novosel volunteers support soldiers and Alabama’s Wiregrass - Alabama News Center
Military Family Housing Renovations Underway at Army’s Fort Novosel
https://share.newsbreak.com/d0kqoy39
AL.com: Where are Alabama’s federal workers? These 5 counties have the highest share
Comment: As a percentage of the overall county population, Coffee County is #1 and Dale County is #3, indicating the importance of Fort Novosel and other federal activities. According to the Washington Post, the Ozark metro area has the highest percentage in the state and is the the 8th highest percentage in the country.
Dothan Eagle: Producing aviation war fighters: Fort Novosel has $9.3 billion economic impact
https://dothaneagle.com/news/local/business/article_464d4bab-b505-482f-ab9e-e3144ebb7f2a.html
Daleville Mayor Invites Residents to Speak Up at Public Meeting on April 24
Fort Novosel opens Training Support Facility to the public for the day | WDHN - wdhn.com
Ozark City Schools celebrates opening of D.A. Smith Career Exploration Center
Comment: Includes Video.
WDHN: Thousands of Fentanyl pills seized in Enterprise drug raid
Commenting: Good job getting rid of deadly Fentanyl pills that could have been shared with Dale Co. Thanks to our neighbors in Enterprise.
WDHN: Federal fight between Wiregrass city and former police chief is over
https://www.wdhn.com/news/federal-fight-between-wiregrass-city-and-former-police-chief-is-over/
WDHN: Major highway work to begin soon in Dale County
https://www.wdhn.com/news/local-news/dale-county/major-highway-work-to-begin-soon-in-dale-county/
WTVY: Army Aviation Center of Excellence logo contest
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/03/24/army-aviation-center-excellence-logo-contest/
City of Daleville to open bids to tear down old, abandoned buildings that have become eyesores
Dale Co. town mourns loss of coach who died after suffering heart issue at practice | WDHN - wdhn.com
New lodging tax bill for Dale County aims to help economic development
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/02/14/new-lodging-tax-bill-dale-county-aims-help-economic-development/
Fort Novosel Plans Major Expansions in 2025, Highlights Economic and Training Growth
AL.com: Descendant of Fort Rucker Confederate namesake: ‘We don’t want our name back on an Alabama base’
WDHN: Controversial name could come back to Fort Novosel
New tax increase could hit Dale County visitors
Dothan Eagle: Resurfacing project in Dale County starts Monday
AFGE | Largest Federal Employee Union Response to Trump Memorandum on Union Contracts
WTVY: New VA clinic coming to Dothan
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/02/04/new-va-clinic-coming-dothan/
WTVY: Senator Britt opens new regional office in Dothan
https://www.wtvy.com/2025/02/01/senator-britt-opens-new-regional-office-dothan/
WDHN: Longtime representative, Ozark native seeks reelection in Alabama House (Steve Clouse)
Dale County - Encyclopedia of Alabama
https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/dale-county/
WDHN: Ozark named Alabama’s newest Certified Local Government
Troy University: Troy University-Dothan Named New Center for Alabama AHEC Wiregrass Region
Ozark receives thousands for recreation park upgrades
WDHN: Daleville daycare workers indicted on child abuse charges
Dothan Eagle: Ariton native sworn in as Dale Revenue Commissioner
WDHN: Former Daleville police sergeant gets over a year in prison for beating a jailed man
15 mental health officers sworn as part of Dale Co. Sheriff’s Office community mental health initiative
For News Articles links from before the 2024 election that were previously listed here, please go to:
https://sites.google.com/view/demoldnews/home/old-dale-county?authuser=0
There you will find a continuation of the news links & comments from the period prior to the November 2024 election
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse