HOUSTON COUNTY: This afternoon Bart Booth took the Oath of Office for Houston County District Court Judge. The Oath of Office was admininstered by the Senior Judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit, the Honorable Butch Binford.
The Investiture ceremony was opened by 20th Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge, the Honorable John John Steensland. The Pledge was led by 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Chris Richardson. The prayer was led by Minister Travis Creasy, Preaching Minister of Westgate Church of Christ.
Recently District Court Judge Lori Ingram retired. After iinterviews by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Bart Booth was selected to fill the vacancy.
Bart Booth has been a practicing attorney in Dothan, Houston County for several years. Originally from Opp Alabama, Bart Booth and his family moved to Dothan Alabama and he opened up a law practice.
As District Court Judge, the public will not get to hear and see much of Bart Booth. The judgeship he is assigned is juvenile matters and the majority of the cases are closed and no dockets published. He brings ot the court a vast amount of experience in juvenile law and has represented the Alabama Department of Human Resources for many years.
Bart Booth’s life long friend, and mentor in the legal profession, Retired District Court Judge Frank “Trippy” McGuire spoke and gave history of Bart Booth. Judge McGuire served 21 years as Covington County District Court Judge and has known Bart Booth from birth forward.
Emergency crews responded to a reported food truck fire at Porter Square Mall, where the vehicle was described as fully involved upon arrival.
Initial reports indicate flames and heavy smoke coming from the food truck, prompting a quick response from fire crews who worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.
At this time, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries. The cause of the fire has not yet been released, and officials have not said whether surrounding businesses were impacted.
This is a developing story. Rickey Stokes News will update as more information becomes available.
The Alabama House of Representatives has passed legislation that would allow the death penalty as a sentencing option for certain child sex abuse crimes, sending the measure to the Senate for further consideration.
House Bill 41 applies to defendants convicted of rape, sodomy, or sexual torture involving a child under the age of 12.
Supporters of the bill, including sponsor Matt Simpson, argue that harsher penalties are necessary to deter offenders and protect children.
“Every day that we can’t punish those people, more and more of this stuff will occur,” Simpson said during debate.
Opponents raised concerns about the bill’s constitutionality, pointing to past U.S. Supreme Court rulings that limit the use of the death penalty to murder cases. Lawmakers also questioned whether the measure could unintentionally discourage victims—particularly in family-related cases—from coming forward.
Chris England said the bill could place an additional emotional burden on victims.
“Making the victim carry forth that burden to not only suffer from that abuse but also participate in the decision of whether or not that person lives or dies could ultimately discourage them from participating in the first place,” England said.
During debate, lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have replaced the death penalty provision with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
House Bill 41 now moves to the Alabama Senate, where it is expected to be taken up later this week.
UPDATED @ 07:11 AM Enterprise Police have reported this missing child ws located around 01:00 AM. Child is SAFE. THANK YOU to the ore than 100 people who braved the cold searching for this child.
ENTERPRISE-COFFEE COUNTY: 4:00 PM ALL HANDS ON DECK search has been underway in Enterprise-Coffee County for a 9 year old that has been missing. The 9 year old never got off the bus.
The missing child is described as 9 years of age, dark hair, black and red backpack, black jacket, gray pants, He was last seen at school and never got off the bus
At 11:15 PM Enterprise Police Chief Michael Moore and members of Enterprise Police Department, Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd and members of Coffee County Sheriff Department, Enterprise Fire Department, Enterprise Rescue, New Brockton Fire Chief/Enterprise Rescue Arnold Woodham, Coffee County Emergency Management Director Grant Lyons and members of Coffee County Emergency Management, WASP ( Wiregrass Aviation Support Program) Air Units, Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum and members of Dale County Sheriff Department, members of Geneva County Sheriff Department and Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, members of Houston County Sheriff Department and Houston County Sheriff K-9. About 100 volunteers are searching for this child. Probably missing some agencies, but multiple agencies and volunteers are searching.
Current temperature 34 degrees.
The residential area is 319 County Road 750.
Anyone with any information contact your local law enforcement.
A former Florida state prison correctional officer has been found guilty of accepting money to smuggle contraband to inmates, according to Washington County court records.
According to State Attorney’s Office, Tina Wallace was convicted Thursday following a jury trial in Chipley.
Prosecutors said Wallace was found guilty on five counts of unlawful compensation for official behavior and five counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The charges stem from allegations that Wallace accepted money in exchange for bringing prohibited items into a state prison.
No additional details regarding the contraband or sentencing timeline were immediately released. Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
