Police reports

May 12, 2008

By Ebony Horton

The Ozark Police Department charged the following between Friday, May 9, and Monday, May 12, with felony crimes. None of them have been convicted. Information provided by the Ozark Police Department.
Lonnie Frazier, 24, of Gray Street in Enterprise, driving under the influence
Joey Kelley Jr., 25, of East Seminole Trail in Bartow, Fla., possession of marijuana in the first degree
David Watson, 18, North Union Avenue in Ozark, driving under the influence

Officials with the Dale County Sheriff’s Department, Daleville, Midland City, Level Plains and Napier Field police departments said there were no significant happenings over the weekend.
Ariton, Newton and Pinckard police departments were not reached.

wEaRy ER experience

Ebony Horton/Dothan Eagle

Last night was almost my worst emergency room experience ever. Almost.
The worst occurred at a Dothan hospital months ago when my two-year-old son and I waited hours just for a doctor to tell us his fever was the result of a viral infection and to take a pill for nausea (did I mention he was two?).
We endured the rest of the night at home in continued nausea, fever rashes and Motrin doses, only to visit my son’s pediatrician the next day to find a 10-second test would have shown my son suffered from Strep throat.
Last night’s experience was not nearly that bad, although I thought it was about to be when I went into the Ozark hospital and saw the emergency room was flooded with people holding their heads and sides.
One woman (whose family member later said she had seizures) kept calling to Jesus to save her because all the entire “place” wanted was money and could care less about her health.
I was already in near devastation when I figured my 2-year-old, baby warrior J, would need a stitch in his chin after sliding in the bathtub (Note: Yes, I was there in the bathroom when it happened. I had turned around to get his bath towel without holding him when it occurred. It had never happened since he has been getting bathed in the “big tub,” but it was definitely a reminder of how important bathroom safety is).
What made it worse in the ER was that the desk officials who were swapping off for lunch breaks, I guess, didn’t remove the full page from the clip board and seemed to just watch me maneuver to flip over to a clean page while I had a bloody baby in one hand and shaky nerves in the other.
Then we had just found a seat in the waiting room before the front desk staff mistakenly called our name to visit Triage to check vital signs. Needless to say we lost that seat and ended up having to stand outside for a while.
About two hours of repeated bleed throughs from J’s chin and stares from others passed before we were finally called back.
My issue was more so with the “un” professionalism with some of the folks at the front and not the staff from the back because everything changed for the better when we were finally in a room (isn’t that usually how it happens anyway?).
The nurse, who was sort of nonchalant in Triage, became J’s best friend – even before she gave him a Popsicle for all of his hard work.
The doctor came in within five minutes to tell us we didn’t need a stitch, just some other tape looking thing that would help J’s chin heal on its own.
A sleepy little boy and I were then on our way home. We’ll see J’s doctor in a couple of days for a follow-up.
Let me say previous experiences at the Ozark hospital have been great, even in the emergency room. But because the bar of excellence had been set so high before, I just had to write “off my spirit” this past experience in hopes that a previous excellent track record continues for others who go there in the future.
Have you had any interesting emergency room experiences?

Welcome to the Ozark/Dale County blog!

May 09, 2008

Ebony Horton/ehorton@dothaneagle.com

Most everyone else I know is inclined to be knowledgeable of what’s going on in their communities: the city and county schools systems, the crimes, events and services. My job over the last year has been to report on such for the Ozark, Dale County region for the Dothan Eagle.
Hence, welcome to the “O Know!” Ozark/Dale County blog. This blog is intended to keep you all informed on what’s going on throughout the area.
I plan to include crime information that prints from our jail and police dockets in Dale County. I’ve developed working relationships with the Dale County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office, Newton and Ozark police departments, and am working my way throughout the county with the Ariton, Clayhatchee, Level Plains, Midland City, Napier Field, and Pinckard city officials and law enforcement agencies.
I also plan to involve some basic and in-depth Dale County, Daleville City and Ozark City schools information.
Whether it be features, announcements or issues, this will be your one-stop shop for what’s going on in our county.
So feel welcome, spread the word, and keep checking back to enjoy your “O Know!” experience!
And don’t hesitate to submit or call with any ideas - as well as comments - on any blog entry or news stories you’d like.

Ebony Horton
Ozark/Dale County Bureau Reporter
(334) 712-7969 o.
(334) 714-4091 c.
(334) 712-7979 f.