Records, records, records

By Ebony Horton

Published: June 4, 2008

From what statistics show, not much more crime goes on throughout the Dale County area than it did five years ago. The difference, however, is that the Dothan Eagle and agencies throughout the Wiregrass have been aggressive in keeping the residents informed.
I’m an Ozark native, and I must admit, I had no idea as much went on throughout the area as does. But the purpose of this column is to commend some law enforcement, school, and other agencies throughout the county for becoming clear and well receptive, and for providing the information necessary for me to do my job.
Some agencies, particularly the Ozark Police Department, Dale County School System, and Dale County District Attorney’s Office, have gone beyond what the Sunshine and public record laws and recommendations require. The Ozark Police Department submits a daily report outlining crime reports and arrests from the previous day, which saves time I would have spent thumbing through the reports and gives more time for me to cover other news in the county.
The Dale County School System and officials in Ozark City government and the Dale County Commission have always worked to keep the media informed, whether through press conferences or notices of how important a meeting would be to residents.
Both agencies are well aware that absolutely no meetings except for executive sessions are closed to the public, which was an issue some other agencies, including some city court officials, questioned in other areas of the county.
Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams, assistant District Attorney Bill Filmore and the rest of the staff in the office have provided press releases on significant cases and have been more than open to questions the Eagle might have had on some other cases.
Throughout the year, other departments have come along to make it somewhat smoother for me to provide information to you. Dale County Jail officials have been trained to know that the jail docket is public record. I no longer have to take a little card around with me outlining what is public record, although they still prefer I only come look at the docket when Lt. Ron Nelson is there.
The Dale County Sheriff’s Office has also come along with submitting press releases when significant arrests have been made or cases have been resolved. Even before this success, I can recall giving Sheriff Wally Olson a call as late as 10 p.m. to get information. I’m sure it’s not specifically in his job description to answer, but he does.
Before Ozark City Schools superintendent Mike Lenhart’s tenure, a law suit in which a judge ruled on what was public record in a teacher’s personnel file became a landmark case in the state because it had never been challenged. The suit came about because questions that appeared to be public about one teacher’s actions in her classroom were never answered.
Since Lenhart, the school system and its attorney, Henry Steagall, have been more than willing to provide information – carefully, not carelessly – that it believes would affect the families in the school system and the community.
Other agencies, including Level Plains Town, Daleville City and Pinckard Town councils, have been open and often provide information when they know one reporter can’t make it to every meeting, especially when almost every council meeting in the county is held on the first or third Tuesday of each month around 5 p.m.
Community advocacy and church groups work to keep us posted on local happenings. I can’t remember the last time I’ve made what used to be a regular trip around town to re-introduce myself to people and let them know how important it was to let us know what was going on around them.
What I would like is for some of the councils, and school boards, to re-address the times they meet. I’m sure most meeting were scheduled around what would be convenient for the families and officials in that area, but depending on when the times were created, it might be time to re-evaluate when the meetings are.
But while we still have some milestones to climb, the agencies Dale County taxpayers pay income for have for the most part provided what the residents need, and not necessarily want, to know.
I can appreciate that as a reporter and a community member.