Latest news with #Dothan
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Preacher arrested after leaving 5-year-old alone in car to drink in bar
An Alabama preacher who police said left a 5-year-old unattended while he drank at a bar into the early morning hours is facing a criminal charge in connection to the weekend incident. John Gibson was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police found the child inside Gibson's SUV, Dothan Police Department Lt. Scott Owens told USA TODAY on Wednesday, July 16. According to Owens, the department's public information officer, Gibson left a 5-year-old family member in his SUV while he drank at a bar in the 2800 block of Ross Clark Circle in Dothan from Saturday, July 12, into the early morning hours of Sunday, July 13. The city of Dothan is in Houston County in southeast Alabama near the Georgia and Florida state lines. 'His faith became sight': Megachurch pastor John MacArthur dies 'He was pretty highly intoxicated' A concerned patron alerted police that a child was in a vehicle unattended," Owens said. "When officers arrived, people directed them to a parking lot where they found the vehicle with the child inside unattended and ID'd Gibson as the owner of vehicle and the child's family member. USA TODAY is not releasing how the child is related to Gibson to protect their identity. It was not immediately known how long the child had been in the vehicle when the officer arrived on the scene, but police said the child was unharmed. "He was pretty highly intoxicated," Owen said recalling when police first interacted with the suspect. The Alabama Department of Human Resources, WTVY-TY, reported, "took the child into their care" until other family members arrived. Human skin? A teddy bear appeared to be wrapped in human flesh. Turns out it was a prank. 'It's just an overall unsafe issue' At the time of the crime, temperatures were in the low 80s, according to weather forecasters. "Regardless of the temperature, someone could have come and kidnapped the child or the child could have had a medical emergency," Owens said. "It's just an overall unsafe issue to leave a child in the car (alone). Police confirmed Gibson was a pastor at First Baptist Church of Dothan at the time of his arrest. First Baptist Church of Dothan statement on pastor's arrest In a statement released to the outlet, the church said it "parted ways with its associate pastor to families following his arrest." 'This incident occurred on the staff member's personal time and in no way involved any of the students or children who participate in our student ministry,' the church wrote in the statement. USA TODAY has reached out to First Baptist Church of Dothan. Pastor who drank in bar while child sat in SUV free on bond Officers booked Gibson into the jail on July 13, Owens said. As of July 16, he was free on $500 bond, according to Owen and information from Houston County Sheriff's Office jail records. Owen could not immediately be reached for comment and it was not known whether he had obtained a defense attorney in the case. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Preacher leaves 5-year-old alone in car to drink in bar, police say
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
City officials, candidates walk through communities ahead of election
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — Before the next election, candidates and city officials are going out to meet the community. The community was met this morning by city officials and candidates for the school board and city commission. Beginning in Kinsey Cove, they were able to stroll through a few areas of districts one and two, giving the candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to local residents. This is due to the fact that the August election for the city commission and school board is less than a month away. Organizers claim that this is a means for the community to become acquainted with the candidates they will be voting for when they go to the polls. 'If you show up for the community no matter the district, it shows that you care we had leaders walking in the rain they truly showed me they care for the community,' Organizer Angela Godfrey said. The election is August 5th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Qualifying municipal election lists
Wiregrass, Ala. (WDHN) — As the Wiregrass gears up for the upcoming municipal elections, voters will soon decide who will shape our city's future and guide its growth in the years to come. A range of candidates have officially qualified, each bringing their vision, priorities, and goals for Dothan's neighborhoods, economy, and quality of life. Here is a look at who is running for mayor and which districts will be on your ballot this election 'Cindy' Gary* JoAnn Bennett GrimsleyKelvin Hall Lonnie Mims Kendall Shirah* City Council District 2 John Boggs Rosa W Lingo Phyllis Minniefield City Council District 3 Mollie Doster Allen Elaine Knight* 4 Delbert Chandler* Cynthia 'Cindi' Pittman Dennis Mathews* DeLaine 'Hawkins' Spencer Hannah Whigham : Tim Johnson Carlos J. Magwood Marty TareyTom G. Hooks Johnathan T. Lockett- incumbent : Aaron Pope Gappa Wise- incumbent : Jane B. Brunson- incumbent Christy Eubanks Laramore Todd Martinetti : Tim Hudson William Love : Kaye Ellis AR Williams – incumbent : David Hayes (I) : Rufus Lee (I) : Cory Dean, Zachary Dodson Freddy McCoy (I) : Kim Gillispie (I) Junior Mixon Luke Smithhart : Ronnie Baine, Daniel (D.C.) Coleman Ryan Tidwell (I) : Richard Bixby (I) : Sarah Tinsley (Note: Mike Fountain WITHDREW) : Daniel L. Coleman Jay Scott Stough IIJeanna Brannon Wendel Nolen (I) Johnnie YeomansMelissa Clements (I) Stanley TindellGeorge Smith Ted Thompson (I)David Cannon William Hales Kelly Tate Brandon WatfordRich BrannonDustin JonesRoger Baine (I) James (Jimmy) Hill Timothy (Chuck) McKnightHenley Hicks (I) Ryan SmithDon WhiteTravis GarrettPeggy Sawyer Riley Samantha BrownTim Bass Adam SalisburyWalter Hargrave (I)Jesse (James) ScottEmily Snellgrove (I) Janice GranthamKathi Cain (I)Patrick HendersonMargaret AycockSpencer PettitTabitha KatherMelinda CampbellVacantLisa Mathis BrownAmber HineselyThomas WilsonVacantDanny StewartMaxine DeBordCopyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Businessman and glamorous wife die after boarding private plane during storm forecast
A South Carolina businessman and his wife died in a private plane crash as they attempted to land in heavy storms. Engineering executive Phil Porter, 69, and his wife Cheryle, 66, tragically lost their lives on Saturday when the jet he was piloting crashed near Dothan, North Carolina, near Myrtle Beach. According to the Gaffney Ledger, Porter had years of experience as a pilot before the deadly crash. The couple took off from Spartanburg and were reportedly set to land at Grand Strand Airport in South Carolina but were diverted due to heavy storms, and crashed as they made their descent. Their twin-engine Beechcraft plane was traveling at around 250mph when it fell from the skies. The cause of the crash is not yet known, and authorities said they have launched an investigation into the deadly incident. Porter owned Porter's Electric Motor Service which he inherited from his father, and his wife worked as a sales representative at the family firm. The husband and wife both died in the crash, with no other injuries or deaths on the ground reported after their jet landed in a wooded area. On his company's profile, Porter's Electric Motor Service is described as a mechanical maintenance and repair firm in the Gaffney, South Carolina area. According to FAA data cited by WBTW, Porter has been certified to fly since 2013. Although the cause of the crash is unclear, air traffic control chatter first obtained by News13 shed some light on the final moments of the couple's final flight. Porter could reportedly be heard telling operators: 'I got some smoke in the trees at my nine 'o clock. I'm on a zero-four-zero heading. I saw him on my (database).' Robert Katz, a commercial pilot with more than 43 years of experience, told the outlet that he believes a combination of heavy weather and pilot error may have contributed to the crash. 'It appears that his flight from Spartanburg was pretty much routine for the most part until he gets into the Myrtle Beach area where is warned about heavy weather. He's not unaware of it,' he said. 'He attempts to approach Grand Strand at exactly the wrong time, when severe weather is in the vicinity.' Flight data showed Porter's plane, which had last flown less than two weeks before the crash, circled away from Grand Strand airport before the crash. 'He is, in effect, scared off, and then attempts to escape the area to the northwest only to find himself in thicker weather at that point, which overtakes him,' Katz said.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dothan native secures PGA Tour invite
DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN)—Round 4 of the East 1 Qualifying School (Q-School) event has officially wrapped up on the RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks. Over 140 professional golfers from around the globe made their way to the Circle City to compete for 11 qualifying spots in the PGA TOUR Americas North America Swing. Advertisement South Carolina native, Garret Reband, was able to walk away with the first-place finish in the tournament after shooting 24 under par. After finishing round three tied for 25th, Dothan native and Rehobeth alum, Brantley Scott, was able to claw his way back to tied for 6th place, good enough to net him a spot on the PGA tour. Scott credited his comeback effort to his familiarity with playing on this course throughout his life. 'This place is a big-boy golf course,' Scott said. 'Around the greens, there are places you can miss, and you cannot miss. Playing out here my whole life, just knowing where to hit it and where not to hit it is a big advantage over the field.' Advertisement The North America Swing begins in Canada later this summer, following the six-tournament Latin America Swing held earlier in the year. You can check out the complete list of qualifiers below: 1.) Garret Reband, York, SC (-24) 2.) Kyle Mueller, Athens, GA (-21) T3.) William Holan, Canada (-17) T3.) Ford Clegg, Birmingham, AL (-17) 5.) Alex Lee, Sacramento, CA (-16) T6.) Austen Christiansen, Tomball, TX (-14) T6.) Brantley Scott, Dothan, AL (-14) T8.) Maxwell Ford, Peachtree Corners, GA (-13) T8.) Jaime Rivarola, Alpharetta, GA (-13) T8.) Bryce Corbett, Gainesville, VA (-13) T8.) Zach Smith, Phoenix, AZ (-13) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN -
