TALLAHASSEE, — A federal inmate from Marianna has acknowledged his role in bringing illegal substances into the Federal Detention Center in Tallahassee.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, 50-year-old Bertram Williams entered a guilty plea in connection to an April incident where staff uncovered contraband hidden in his clothing after a visit.
Investigators say that on April 13, correctional officers searched Williams following a visitation period. During the search, officers inspected his left boot and came across latex glove fingertips that had been cut and modified to hold two small plastic containers.
Inside one container, staff located marijuana. The second held a small piece of paper that was soaked in a drug that later tested positive for synthetic marijuana, officials said.
Both substances were confirmed through testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Williams, who remains in custody at FDC Tallahassee, now faces a maximum sentence of five years behind bars and an additional year of supervised release.
HOUSTON COUNTY: This morning following the Houston County Commission Meeting members of the Houston County Commission, Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, Dale County Commission Chairman Steve McKinnon and Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum held a press conference. The purpose of the press conference was their announcement that Houston and Dale County are joing as defendants in the SSUT ( Simplified Seller’s Use Tax ) case. This is a court case filed by City of Tuscaloosa, School District if the City of Tuscaloosa and City of Mountian Brook verses he Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Revenue.
This case involves the “use tax” and not a “sales tax” involving internet purchases. The sales tax system of Alabama is out of date and complicated as flying a jet plane. That is one of the reasons the internet purchase tax is referred to as a “use” tax and not a “sales” tax.
The Houston County Commission voted to join the lawsuit in today’s meeting as a defendant.
According to Chairman Shoupe he said that Tuscaloosa and the “Big 10 Cities”, of which the City of Dothan is one of the “Big 10 Cities”, want is geo tagging addresses. Shoupe used the example that he lives 1/2 miles outside of the City of Dothan and the geo tagging would not be possible. Shoupe also said he does not feel the government should know how much his family spends with Amazon or other online vendors.
Shoupe admitted that county residents, where the sales tax is 5% and not 8%, but on the SSUT they pay 8%, is the best option then what the City of Tuscaloosa is wanting in the lawsuit.
Very confusing.
All motions to intervene are to be filed within 30 days of the Montgomery Circuit Court order issued November 10, 2025. The court will hear all pending motions on January 21, 2026 in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
A tragic discovery in Wilcox County has led to a Capital Murder arrest involving the deaths of two teenagers.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the victims — ages 18 and 17 — were located Saturday near Ralph Ervin Road in the Pine Hill area. Both teens suffered fatal gunshot wounds. They had been reported missing earlier in the week, last seen on Monday, Nov. 17, in the Thomasville area.
Authorities confirmed that 27-year-old Courtney Anderson, a Thomasville resident, was taken into custody Saturday. He is currently being held at the Wilcox County Jail.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is continuing to gather evidence in the case. Upon completion of the investigation, ALEA will present the findings to the Wilcox County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.
DOTHAN: Recently a co-worker of mine, known as BJ ( Brandon Brock ) found out that his mother, Lisa Langley, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. And it rocked BJ’s world.
The treatment plan is good so there is encouragement.
Other than being there for someone there is not much one can do. But with situations as this it brings about financial issues. Unplanned for expenses, if a family has two incomes and one is cut, then the other has time taken off to help, brings financial expenses.
So BJ, with help of friends such as Cabrea Harvesting and 431 Produce, launched a fundraiser.
This past Saturday, BJ and friends raised more than $ 3,400.00 for his mother to help with financial issues throughout her journey with cancer.
This shows the love of a son for his mother.
As a co-worker, BJ is in charge in bail enforcement. To search for and locate those who fail to appear in court or go AWOL. He is the best I have ever seen and has a great talent in locating people. And he has a way of handling people with true caring to help solve their issues.
BJ, THANKS for all you do and for the love for your mother.
HOUSTON COUNTY – GENEVA COUNTY – HENRY COUNTY: The men and women who volunteer have spent their weekend fighting outdoor woods fires in three counties. All through the day these departments have rolled to the woods fires.
PEOPLE – NO BURNING RIGHT NOW.
These men and women have spent their entire weekend responding to the outdoor fires. Large woods fires.
I was asked to pass this message also: Houston County Commissioners when you question funding and purchases made by the volunteer fire agencies, you, the Commissioners make money in your job. These men and women volunteer their time, money and resources. Remember, your weekend were not spent fighting fires and your plans cancelled. The commissioners get salary, car allowance, health insurance and retirement. No commissioners were helping fight the fires. But those not paid were working to save lives and property.
And citizens, when these agencies say they need funding, it is to save lives and property in the county. And it could be your life or property.
WEBB – HOUSTON COUNTY: In order to understand the initial chaos of this call one must understand how 911 is set up and how agencies radio systems are set up. While the City of Dothan – Houston County Communications Center ( 911 ) was constructed as a “joint” communications center, it ain’t joint! It is co-located.
Dothan Police answer 911 calls and Houston County Sheriff Department answers 911 calls. There is a wall between the Dothan Police Communications Center and Houston County Sheriff Communications Center. Dothan Police has more staff in the 911 center then the Sheriff Department. Depending on how many are on duty in the Sheriff Communications depends on how many 911 lines they can answer. When the 911 lines ring they roll over to the other communications center if not answered. The information is put into the CAD ( Computer Aided Dispatch ) for the agency responsible.
Dothan Police 911 answers and dispatches Dothan Police, Dothan Fire and Pilcher Ambulance. Houston County Sheriff 911 dispatches Houston County Sheriff Deputies, Kinsey, Webb, Columbia, Gordon, Ashford, Cottonwood and Taylor Police, all 17 Houston County Volunteer Fire, all 5 Houston County EMS, Headland EMS when they answer calls in Kinsey, and Pilcher Ambulance when they answer calls outside the City of Dothan.
ALEA – Troopers have their own dispatcher who handles ALEA Troopers.
None of the above is critical of any entity, but a mere explanation of how things work.
THE WEBB CALL
NOW…. around 11:00 AM, following the death notification of family from the Ludlam Road traffic death, the ALEA Trooper pulled into Express It in Webb. As the Trooper stopped. but was still in the car, a white SUV came flying into the parking lot and a male subject exited running towards the ALEA Trooper with arms in the air yelling. The Trooper immediately exited the vehicle and stopped the person attempting to see what was going on. The ALEA Trooper notified ALEA Dispatch to send Houston County Sheriff Department. About the same time 911 calls began hitting Houston County and Dothan 911 about a incident at a church east of Webb. The Trooper had placed the man in handcuffs for protection while attempting to see what was going on.
The initial call dispatched was, disorderly at the church on Highway 52 east of Ludlum Road. This is the old Poplar Springs Church which is another name. There was an off duty law enforcement officer at the church. The call then went to person left the church building to get a firearm from his vehicle. The call then went to active shooter at the church. The call then went to ALEA Trooper at Express It and was assaulted. The call then went to the ALEA Trooper was at Express It “with” the assault victim, and there was no active shooter or shooting and no assault of the ALEA Trooper.
Houston County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jeff Carlisle was the first one to the ALEA Trooper at Express It. Chief Carlisle confirmed the ALEA Trooper was ok and with the assault victim. Other deputies responded to the church. All was calm and there was never a weapon displayed, shots fired.
The person at Express It had injuries to the face and then had a seizure. Pilcher Ambulance was dispatched to the scene. The person was unhandcuffed as the story developed.
It seems the man was speaking and the pastor is reported to have told him his time was up. The pastor had to take him by the arm and he was escorted from the church building. Outside the church, and not by the pastor or off duty officer, the man received injuries to his face. The man is reported to have some behavioral issues.
The first trip of Pilcher Ambulance responding the subject was not transported. Houston County Criminal Investigation Division responded. The man had a second seizure and Pilcher Ambulance had to respond a second time and the man was then transported.
No criminal charges have been filed.
But as you can see from the multiple reports and different agencies getting the calls why a big response in Webb. But when the call “active shooter” was sounded it was mass response and swift response.
