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Hello Dothan! Hope your coffee’s especially good this morning.

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Ann Varnum and Mike Gurspan inducted, peanut DNA lab breakthrough, and big top circus + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

📰 In the news

Celebrating broadcasting trailblazers: Beloved WTVY alumni Ann Varnum and Mike Gurspan will be inducted into the Alabama Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Dothan on March 20, part of the ABA’s 80th anniversary celebration — see their career milestones.

Local community event announced: PEIR Dothan’s Spring Into Recovery Health Fair and Easter Egg Hunt will bring wellness resources and family fun to Dothan on Saturday, March 21, promoting recovery awareness — get all the details.

Real-world science in action: Dothan High students extracted peanut DNA this month at the Wiregrass Innovation Center through HudsonAlpha’s Wiregrass Peanut Project, aiming for hardier peanuts that could save farmers money, planning summer programs — learn how genetics could help farmers.

Gold just hit record highs. What about your savings? While traditional IRAs have been treading water against inflation, gold has gained over 50% in three years. That gap is why more retirees are rolling a portion of their savings into gold IRAs (the kind that hold physical metal). We compared the top five options and broke down who they’re best for. Check it out here →

Paying hundreds of dollars a month for car insurance? Switching providers could save you up to $600 a year, and shopping around is way faster than it used to be – free comparison tools like this one make it easy.*

Highlights this week:

• Guided book discussions spotlight authors’ biographies
• Join a Bridgerton garden promenade
• Try glassblowing with Hot Glass Academy
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home*

💎 Local business spotlight

Turn it up this week: A repurposed Coca‑Cola bottling spot turned outdoor stage, The Plant keeps the calendar packed with touring acts and hometown throwdowns. When you need an easy plan that feels like an event, grab your crew and let The Plant handle the soundtrack.

Time for some color: Bells Gallery keeps contemporary work rotating through monthly exhibits—and you can actually snag the pieces you love via the online gallery. Give yourself a little midweek inspiration and pop in this week to find a piece that makes your place feel 10% more you.

Steeped and local: If your mug’s been bored, the loose‑leaf lineup at Mural City Coffee Company runs from smoky Lapsang Souchong to bright senchas and cozy rooibos blends—brewed with care and easy to take home, too. Give your weekday ritual a little upgrade this week.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, *their curated kits are worth a look →

Own a piece of Apple for less than a coffee: Every time you buy something from Amazon or Starbucks, you’re putting money in their pocket. Fractional shares flip that: you can own a slice of those companies for as little as a dollar. Most investing apps make it incredibly easy, with zero commissions and no account minimums. See which ones we recommend →

Mom says she’s fine. You’re not so sure: “What if something happens when you’re home alone?” You’ve asked a hundred times, but the outcome’s always the same. I don’t need that. Life Alert’s for old people. The real struggle isn’t finding a medical alert system that’ll work… it’s finding one she won’t fight you on. We looked into five options designed to settle the standoff, from smartwatches to systems with nothing to wear at all. See which ones stood out →

Thinning hair? Your shampoo was never going to fix it: I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of money on hair-loss products, biotin, masks, sprays, you name it. Not one of them lasted. Turns out, most things target the strand, not the follicle (where thinning actually happens). Dermatologists have been prescribing treatments that work for years, but there are now plenty of options available with no office visits required. See our top picks for men and women →

Strangers can buy your personal data for $0.50: Data brokers sell your name, home address, phone number, estimated income, and other personal info to anyone willing to pay. Scammers and identity thieves use these databases to take advantage of you. There are dozens of affordable services that can help you protect yourself. These three are our favorites →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🐰 Easter Bunny Houses! @ Dothan Houston County Library System | Thursday (3/19) at 4:00 PM – Main Library is going full frosting with kids 5-12 building Easter bunny houses, equal parts craft time, sugar rush, and adorable chaos. Think architecture school you can eat, and the Dewey Decimal System approves. Registration and a valid library card are required, register at: https://dhcls.librarycalendar.com/event/easter-bunny-houses-8210

🎬 Movies in the Park: The Sandlot @ Porter Park | Friday (3/20) at 7:00 PM – Bring a blanket or a lawn chair, and meet me at Porter Park for The Sandlot on the big screen. It’s free, there’s a food truck, and yes, you can quote along quietly like a respectable adult. Nostalgia, baseball, and community, all in one place.

🚜 Spring Farm Day @ Landmark Park | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Landmark Park is turning back the clock with Spring Farm Day, where Plow Day demos, antique tractors, and mule and horse teams supply the actual horsepower. Bring kids who think milk comes from cartons, then stay for fresh-turned earth, friendly folks, and nostalgia.

🐸 Studio Artist Workshop: Pinch Pot Frog Friends @ Wiregrass Museum of Art | Saturday (3/21) at 12:30 PM – Got a kiddo 8 to 12 who loves critters and clay, or just needs a screen break? Helen Wu’s pinch-pot frog workshop at the museum keeps little hands busy, teaches basics, and yields a handmade frog for later pickup, $20 members, $25 not-yet members.

🎻 Viper World Championship Preview Recital @ Ashford High School | Sunday (3/22) at 5:30 PM – The Vipers are throwing a Worlds preview, so come clap like you mean it and send Wiregrass’s finest off in style. Expect high-energy routines, raffles, and prizes, plus the smug satisfaction of supporting local talent before everyone starts sharing the videos.

🎤 Write Night: Children and Teen Open Mic Night @ Wiregrass Museum of Art | Tuesday (3/24) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for proof the Wiregrass still raises storytellers, head to WMA for a kids and teens open mic of poetry, prose, skits, and more. Five minutes per set, zero pressure, lots of heart. Sign ups happen on site, applause encouraged.

🎪 Big Top Circus @ Under The Big Top! – National Peanut Festival, 5622 US-231, Dothan, AL 36301 | Wednesday (3/25) at 5:00 PM – Zerbini Family Circus set up at the Peanut Festival grounds, bringing back real-deal big top magic. Aerialists, clowns, jugglers, acrobats, and camels in a tight 90 minutes with bleacher seating, so snag tickets online or at the gate and look like you plan family fun.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Dothan report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 60°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 2%

Areas of frost before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. East wind 0 to 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 68°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Clear, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 0 mph.

This house is wild

This Certified Energy Star Bart Liddon build has 4 beds and 4 baths and a Wolf kitchen with double gas ovens and walk-in pantry. Ten-foot ceilings elevate a great room with gas fireplace. The luxe suite offers a curbless shower and skylight, plus game room upstairs, spray-foam and Rinnai efficiency. Recent upgrades include a 2025 roof and 2022 heat pumps.

Take a peek inside →