By Ebony Horton
Ozark City Schools was without a chief financial officer on Thursday after the abrupt resignation of one on Wednesday, according to officials.
City School Board members approved the immediate resignation of Monica Foote and the request for an audit by the state Public Examiners Office at an emergency called board meeting on Thursday. According to Schools Superintendent Michael Lenhart, Foote resigned after questioning on Wednesday concerning irregularities in school funds that involved a third-party security check.
While Lenhart said no money appeared to be missing from the school funds, Lenhart said Foote made no statement concerning the indescrepancies.
Lenhart said little more could be said about the ongoing investigation.
“I want it clear that no one is jumping to conclusions and at this moment we are not aware of any funds missing. There is no confirmed illegal act, (but) I do believe our internal measures as well as an audit give the public confidence that our control measures have worked,“ he said. “We’ve acted quickly to get whatever issues resolved while they have a minimum impact, if any.“
The state Department of Education would likely provide assistance in seeking another chief financial officer to assist in payroll and closing out last fiscal year’s budget, he said.
Foote was in the Ozark school system for around 14 years, he said.
Posted by Ebony Horton on 09/10 at 02:56 PM
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By Ebony Horton
The following crimes/incidents were reported on Friday through Monday to the Ozark Police Department:
Thursday
Minor in Consumption of Alcohol – Church’s Chicken Parking Lot – suspect was stopped for not wearing a seat belt and no tag light and after determining he was drinking alcohol, he was arrested and placed in the Dale County Jail.
Friday
Criminal Mischief 3rd/Leaving the Scene of an Accident – Willow Ridge Lane – suspect struck a light pole in the complainant’s front yard.
Burglary 3rd/Criminal Mischief 3rd – Painter Avenue (Security Finance) - unknown suspect used a crow bar to enter the business then shattered the glass on the front door and took $3.40 from a cash drawer.
Criminal Mischief 1st – Deese Road – suspect came over to victim’s home and broke two of the windows in the back of his house and the light bulb on his back porch then poured sugar in the tank of his vehicle.
Harassing Communications – Deese Road - suspect has been constantly calling for the sole purpose of harassing him.
Burglary 3rd – County Road 571 – suspect was found on the victim’s property and when confronted the suspect made aggressively moves towards the victim and it was discovered that suspect had entered several of victim’s barns.
Passing a Stopped School Bus – Andrews Avenue near Campground Church –suspect was observed passing a stopped school bus traveling at a high rate of speed.
Domestic Dispute
Theft of Property 3rd – Inland Station – suspect pumped $31.05 worth of gasoline into his vehicle and left without paying.
Domestic Harassment
Domestic Dispute
Criminal Trespass 3rd – Newton Avenue – suspect came onto her property and began knocking on the windows and doors without permission.
Saturday
Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle – Harris Hills Apartments – suspect borrowed the victim’s car and had failed to return the vehicle, as agreed upon, after the curfew.
Theft of Property 3rd – The Shoe Box – suspect entered the listed store and left the premises without paying for a dress.
Endangering the Welfare of a Child – East Andrews Avenue – office observed victim sitting in the suspect’s lap and being allowed to steer the moving vehicle throughout the parking lot.
Criminal Trespass 3rd – Hull Street – suspect came onto the victim’s property after being told not to and causes the victim to fear for his life.
Harassing Communications – Woodview Drive – suspect has been calling her making threats to physically assault her.
Domestic Harassment
Domestic Dispute
Leaving the Scene of an Accident – Unknown Location – suspect struck his vehicle during the night and the victim’s daughter had taken the vehicle to the football game but doesn’t know where the incident happened.
Theft of Property 3rd – Campground Road – suspect was helping the victim move some equipment and when he left he took a leather saddle without permission.
Harassing Communications – Barbara Drive – Victim stated suspects called victim’s phone numerous times after being told to stop.
Robbery 3rd/Theft of Property 3rd – Simmons Road – suspect struck victim with a stick and took $60.00 from his pants pocket.
Theft of Property 2nd – Boykin Avenue – suspect drove off in a vehicle that had victim’s medications and has refused to return them to him.
Criminal Mischief 2nd – Martin Street – suspect used a sharp object and caused damage to his vehicle.
Sunday
Discharging Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle – in front of Harris Road – suspect fired a weapon towards the victim, striking the windshield and shattering it which caused glass to break and cut the victim on her right forearm.
Attempted Murder – Harris Road – suspect fired shots towards the victim in an attempt to kill the victim.
Menacing/Harassment – Harris Road – suspect came to victim’s residence and was using profane language and drove by her residence hanging a weapon out of the window and pointing a red laser dot on her.
Harassing Communications – County Road 58 – suspect keeps calling victim and threatening to kill his horses.
Monday
Unlawful Breaking & Entering of a Vehicle/Theft of Property 2nd – Claybank Avenue – unknown suspect entered victim’s unsecured vehicle and removed a dual CD Player and Audio CD’s.
Domestic Harassment
Assault 3rd – Briarhill Court – suspect jumped on victim causing minor injuries to her chest and left arm.
Burglary 3rd/Theft of Property 2nd – Miranda Avenue – suspects went into victim’s unsecured shed and removed his generator without his permission or knowledge.
Criminal Mischief 3rd - Glenway Drive – suspect attempted to gain entry into her vehicle by prying the plastic portion around her lock and causing damage to the door lock and seal.
Harassment/Harassing Communications – Applebees parking lot – suspect confronted the victim in the parking lot and threatened to kill her then continued to text message the victim making threats of bodily harm.
Domestic Dispute
Public Intoxication – Cannon Oil Station – suspect was on the business property annoying customers and heavily intoxicated.
Domestic Harassment
Harassing Communications – Logan Road – suspect has been calling her cellular phone after being told to stop and sent the victim a nude photo of himself, via the cellular phone.
Domestic Assault 3rd
ARRESTS:
Roosevelt Belcher, Jr. – DUI – Friendship Street Enterprise, Al. – 37 YOA
Posted by Ebony Horton on 09/08 at 03:52 PM
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By Jim Cook and Ebony Horton
Several city and county law enforcement agencies are expected to continue a search this morning for an Enterprise boy they believe drowned in the Choctawhatchee River on Saturday, according to authorities.
Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson said around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday that the search for a 15-year-old Enterprise boy was called off for the night because of poor water visibility. The search had began around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday after witnesses said the boy went under water while he was swimming with some friends, Olson said.
The teen’s name was not released.
“How deep the river is varies in different areas. The water visibility is pretty bad at this time, so it’s hard to dive with no lighting,” Olson said.
Houston County Sheriff’s Capt. Antonio Gonzalez said divers and the county boat’s sonar system covered as much ground as possible on Saturday in order to minimize the search area for today.
Dale County Coroner Woody Hiboldt was called to the scene on Saturday.
Several agencies, including Wicksburg Fire and Rescue, Daleville and Houston County rescue squads assisted Dale County in the search.
Posted by Ebony Horton on 09/05 at 08:12 PM
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By Ebony Horton
After nearly a year inside the Houston County Jail, a former Ozark and Midland City police officer was ordered to house arrest this week.
Chris Ford was ordered to house arrest on Thursday by Dale County Judge Henry Steagall.
Ford was charged in October 2008 with burglary, domestic violence, and violation of a family protection order after a standoff incident near Dothan.
Posted by Ebony Horton on 09/05 at 06:13 AM
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By Ebony Horton
The following crimes/incidents were reported to Ozark Police Department on Thursday. Information provided by Ozark Police Department:
Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card – 4 counts – suspect took victim’s debit card and used it at listed location, without victim’s permission, in the amount of $6.95.
Domestic Assault 3rd
Criminal Trespass 1st – Harris Road – obtained entry into victim’s residence by using a key, without the victim’s permission.
Theft of Property 3rd – Beeline BP #636 – suspect pumped $3.01 worth of gasoline into his vehicle and left without paying.
Criminal Trespass 3rd – Ed Lisenby Drive – suspect was hid on the side of her residence and when victim arrived the suspect attempted to gain entry into the home without the victim’s permission.
Assault 2nd – Simmons Avenue – suspect punched the victim in the eye causing serious injury which required hospital treatment.
Criminal Trespass 3rd – Wal Mart – susepct came into the listed store intoxicated after being served a letter stating he would be arrested if he came into the store drinking again.
Theft of Property 3rd – South Highway 123 – suspect took $91.00 from her residence without her permission.
Theft of Property 3rd – Kangaroo – suspect grabbed two 18-packs of beer and walked out of the store without paying for the beer.
Posted by Ebony Horton on 09/05 at 06:08 AM
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