Information on police incident to be released

June 26, 2008

By Ebony Horton

City of Ozark attorney Joe Adams said the personnel information can be released regarding the discipline of three Ozark officers believed to have been in the vicinity of an underage girl who got drunk.
The Dothan Eagle had submitted an open records request under the Freedom of Information Act to Ozark Police Chief Tony Spivey after the officers’ information was not disclosed last week.
Adams said the investigation into the officers was not public, but that the personnel file of the city employees was.
There was no time set for the records to be released, but a call was put in for the records on Thursday morning.

Daleville fire claims lives of three dogs

June 24, 2008

By Ebony Horton

A woman lost everything, including three dogs, in a house fire in Daleville around noon on Tuesday, according to officials.
Daleville Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Sapp said the dogs died in a Fort Rucker Trailer Park residence near Cairns Army Airfield. The fire was likely an electrical fire, he said.
Sapp said one other dog survived while under the trailer and a cat also survived.
“The one dog was heard whining underneath the trailer and was able to get out, so that was amazing … (The fire) was probably electrical. Everything was just too damaged to tell anything,” he said.
American Red Cross has been called in to assist the family, Sapp said.

Ozark chief won’t speak on officers

June 20, 2008

By Ebony Horton

An investigation has been completed in relation to three Ozark police officers who were placed on administrative leave in Ozark last week, but Ozark Police Chief Tony Spivey said no details on any disciplinary action could be made public.

Spivey said “appropriate action has been taken” but that the information was bound by the city personnel rules of confidentiality.

“It is a personnel matter and cannot be subjected to the public,” he said.

The Dothan Eagle faxed an Open Records request to Spivey for the information late Friday.

According to earlier reports, the three officers were allegedly involved in an incident where a girl under legal drinking age got drunk in the officers’ vicinity.

The officers were off duty but an internal investigation took place to determine whether any laws were broken.

Spivey said the information would have been public had there been any criminal charges against the officers.

Ozark school board approves hires for three new positions, Mixon Elementary principal hiree expected

By Ebony Horton

While no one has been hired to fill the place of longtime Mixon Elementary Principal, Mrs. Mikoda, three new positions have been created and hired for in the Ozark City School System.
Diane Holman was appointed the assistant superintendent and is third in command to superintendent Mike Lenhart, while Richard McInturf will be second in command as the new associate superintendent.
Christopher Blair will serve as the new school intervention officer and leadership academy director. Lenhart said Blair will serve in an intervention capacity to help schools who need more guidance than Lenhart can personally give.
The leadership academy will help the district develop teachers and other personnel who want to advance to administrative positions in the system.
“I know in one case we hurt somebody by putting them in a position they were not ready for. The leadership academy will involve very in-depth discussion about programs, including the reading program, and we’re gonna bring teachers in for those discussions,“ Lenhart said.
“Hopefully we will not always need an intervention officer, but hopefully (Blair will work his way into the district in some other capacity.”
Lenhart said a Mixon Elementary principal will likely be hired by next month.

Rally tonight for Billy Blackwell

June 19, 2008

By Ebony Horton

Ozark mayoral candidate Billy Blackwell will have a rally tonight in Ozark. I believe it starts at 6 p.m. and is at the corner of North Union and Roy Parker Road.