More photos of flood preparation today in Newton

Drove to Newton after Columbia. Some homes were already experiencing problems like Horace Hodges' home in Newton. Even though his home could be flooded tomorrow, Horace was in good spirits while digging a trench to divert water from under his house.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
Horace Hodges digs a trench to drain water away from his home in Newton on Tuesday afternoon. Hodges hopes the Choctawhatchee River, which is near his back yard, doesn't rise any more than it did on Saturday.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com.A truck splashes through a flooded street behind the Newton Library on Tuesday afternoon.

Residents in Columbia prepare for the rain

Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
Jonathan Windsor places a gutter outside of his home on the bank of the Chattahoochee River in Columbia. Windsor was installing a gutter to drain water away from his new seawall next to his house.

Flood damage in Geneva County taken on Monday

Geneva residents look over the entrance to Fowler Park on Monday morning.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
Rex Jackson, a road maintenance technician with the Alabama Department of Transportation, talks to his supervisor on a cell phone as he performs traffic duty to keep people away from the flooded roadway on State Hwy 85 in Geneva County on Tuesday night.



Geneva's public golf course is under water, but the clubhouse is safe.



Mounds of ants could be seen floating in the flood waters.



One of the many county roads in Geneva County that were damaged due to Saturday's torrential rainfall.

Storm photos from Saturday

Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
A Dothan Police officer looks over a flooded East Main Street on Saturday afternoon.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
The crossover road on U.S. 84 in front of Sony was submerged following the torrential rains that swept through the Wiregrass Saturday morning.




Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
Members of the Dothan Tachtical Response Team walk back to their vehicles after assisting two boys who were swept away momentarily while playing ina creek near Woodmere Drive.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
A Dothan Police officer closes off Rosemont Drive due to flooding during one of the torrential rains that swept through the Wiregrass Saturday morning.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com
A motorist celebrates after crossing through high water on the crossover road on U.S. 84 in front of Sony following the torrential rains that swept through the Wiregrass Saturday morning.

Tornado damage in Wicksburg

A tornado swept through Wicksburg this morning causing minor damage to structures and downing trees in the area.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com. Becky Bernhard of Wicksburg jokes about moving to the area that is known for tornado activity oustside of her home Thursday morning. Bernhard witnessed a tornado that swept by her home and struck a nearby house causing minor damage. For details of her story read Lance Griffin's report at dothaneagle.com or tomorrow's Dothan Eagle.

I shoot anything that has good lines.

I found this feature today riding around Newton. It's not the most exciting photo I've ever taken but I never pass on a feature that has a good leading line like this ditch.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com.Shawn Tate of Elmore Lawncare uses a grass trimmer to cut grass around a drainage ditch outside a housing complex in Newton on Monday afternoon. Spring has arrived in the Wiregrass which brings good business to the lawncare industry.

Four victims of Samson shooting laid to rest today

Mourners hug as they gather outside of Samson Baptist Church on Tuesday afternoon following funeral services for Tracy Wise, Dean Wise, Virginia White and James White.



Pallbearers wearing orange caps and camouflage carry the casket of Dean Wise out of Samson First Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon following a multiple funeral along his mother Tracy Wise, Virginia White and James White.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com.The reflection of pallbearers wearing orange caps and camouflage is shown in the back of a Samson rescue squad vehicle.



Motorist watch from the parking lot of the Big Little Store as the funeral procession for Tracy Wise, Dean Wise, Virginia White and James White drives through downtown Samson on the way to the cemetary Tuesday afternoon.



Jay Hare / jhare@dothaneagle.com.The funeral procession for Tracy Wise, Dean Wise, Virginia White and James White drives through downtown Samson on the way to the cemetary Tuesday afternoon..

Samson Shooting aftermath

On Tuesday's blog I posted this photo of an unidentified man in Samson grieving for his lost loved ones following the horrific shooting of 10 people in Coffee and Geneva Counties.




The man has since been identified as, Murray Wise. He lost his wife, Tracy and his fifteen year-old son, Dean. The Samson Volunteer Rescue Squad has set up a special fund account for Murray to help pay for expenses and a scholarship fund in his son's honor. The account will be located at the Samson Banking Company Inc., 2 West Main Street, Samson, AL 36477. For more of his story read Friday's Dothan Eagle or check it out at dothaneagle.com



Murray Wise looks at a photo of his wife, Tracy, held by Melissa Stinson during a press conference on the steps of his home Thursday afternoon. Wise's wife and son, Dean (15) were killed during Tuesday's shooting rampage by gunman Michael McLendon on Tuesday.

Shooting rampage in Samson, Ala.

For more photos and current details of this horrific story go to dothaneagle.com or read the Dothan Eagle in the morning.



Law enforecement personnel use sheets to obstruct onlookers' view of victims of a shooting rampage in Samson, Ala. Tuesday afternoon.






Family members of victims of a shooting rampage in Samson on Tuesday afternoon comfort each other outside a home on Pullum Street in Samson, Ala.. 11 people died including the gunmen as a result of the shooting rampage that killed eight people in the town and spread over Coffee and Geneva Counties.



Family members of victims of a shooting rampage in Samson on Tuesday afternoon react after being denied access to their home in Samson, Ala.. 11 people died including the gunmen as a result of the shooting rampage that killed eight people in the town and spread over Coffee and Geneva Counties.



Law enforcement officials from across the state investigate one of the crime scenes of a shooting rampage in Samson, Ala. on Tuesday afternoon. 11 people died including the gunmen as a result of the shooting rampage.



Area law enforcement look over downtown Samson late Tuesday afternoon following a shooting rampage that left 11 people dead including the gunman.



Dothan Police crime technician Joe Thomas (right) compares notes with another law enforcment official outside the Big Little Store in downtown Samson, Ala. late Tuesday afternoon. A gunman went on a shooting spree killing one person at the gas pumps of the store and 10 others in the area including the himself.



A group of volunteer firefighters relax outside a suspicous house fire in Kinston, Ala. on Tuesday night where a woman was found dead. The State Fire Marshalls office worked the scene along with law enforcement officials from around the state. The woman is believed to be the first victim of a shooting rampage in Samson, Ala. that left 11 people dead including the gunman.



State of Alabama Deputy Fire Marshall Charles Gorey looks over documents outside the scene of a suspicous house fire Tuesday night that claimed the life of a woman in Kinston, Ala. The house is believed to be the home of a man who went on a shooting rampage in Samson, Ala. 11 people died including the gunmen as a result of the shooting spree.

Drowning in Cottonwood

Today ended on a sad note. A young girl drowned in Cottonwood. Thoughts and prayers to the family.



Houston County Sheriffs Department deputy Curtis Smith stands by police tape as members of the department along with Cottonwood Police investigate the scene of a drowning of a young girl Monday night in the 9800 block of County Rd. 55. The mother found the girl in a creek below a bridge near dusk and alerted neighbors who called Cottonwood Police to report the incident. No other details were released at presstime. Story should be updated by the morning at dothaneagle.com

Slice of Americana

I drove around the rural areas all day looking for a feature photo. I didn't see anything until I stopped to buy a drink at the store. I found this little fella with his grandmother enjoying the day. Ah, the simple things in life.



Lucas Crapps (3) enjoys a, "Sponge Bob Square Pants," popsicle while hanging out with his grandmother, Diane James, on a bench in front of Riverside Bait and Tackle in Blakely on Monday afternoon. The two were spending the Spring-like day together looking at trucks and checking out creeks in the area for fish and wildlife.

Celeste Graham's audition with BET's Sunday Best show

Celeste's story will be in Saturday's Dothan Eagle. Her audition for the American Idol show for gospel singers will air Sunday at 8 p.m on BET.

Arizona man spreads Christian word with covered wagon

Good story, follow link below to slideshow.
"I would love to do something like this for about a year, traveling around the country meeting people, getting into adventures. It would be a blast."



http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/news/local/article/arizona_man_spreads_christan_word_with_covered_wagon/62068/