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Elderly woman, 79, arrested, jailed after minor dust-up at Alabama council meeting

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Elderly woman, 79, arrested, jailed after minor dust-up at Alabama council meeting


An elderly woman was arrested at her Alabama home and taken to city jail a day after she lambasted the small-town mayor and argued with a city employee at a council meeting.

Novilee Williams, 79, was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment after a testy exchange during the Dec. 4 meeting’s public comment portion, which was filmed and later posted to the city’s Facebook page.

“That’s a pity and a shame,” Tarrant Councilwoman Veronica Bandy Freeman told AL.com, who the outlet says burst into tears upon hearing of Williams’ arrest.

“And I feel so bad. That could be somebody’s grandmama, great grandmama.”

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In the video, Williams can be seen in a mostly empty council chamber sitting behind a woman identified as Shayla Myricks, an accountant for Tarrant, Ala., a small city of around 6,000 residents just outside of Birmingham.

As Williams strongly criticizes Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton, accusing him of engaging in corruption over the recent suspension and reinstatement of Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major, Myricks repeatedly turns in her seat to challenge the septuagenarian’s assertions.

“Turn around, honey,” Williams chides Myricks at one point in the video.

Seconds later, Myricks again turns to face Williams and gestures with her hand, which Williams lightly pushes away as she repeats her demand that she turn around.

“Don’t put your hands on me, ma’am,” Myricks can be heard saying in the video.

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According to AL.com, that physical contact led Myricks to file misdemeanor charges against Williams, which alleged she “did engage in fighting and threatening behavior in a public place.”

A confrontation between a resident and a city accountant led to a police report being filed when the 79-year-old pushed her hand away. City Of Tarrant

The police report obtained by the outlet says Williams “did, without lawful authority, direct Myricks to turn around” and “did shove Myricks, by making physical contact, in an attempt to force her to do so.”

An email sent to Myricks by The Post seeking comment was not immediately returned Sunday evening.

In the final portions of the video, Williams briefly rose to her feet with her hands placed on her hips as she glowered at Myricks.

After the meeting wrapped up, a uniformed police officer approaches Williams and she presents him with her identification, which she produces from a fanny pack around her waist.

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The officer takes her ID and walks out of the frame as the footage ends.

According to AL.com, Williams is a regular fixture at Tarrant council meetings and has frequently sparred with Mayor Newton, who was not in the room during the public comment period.


An argumentative exchange between attendees of a city council meeting in Tarrant, Alabama.
Novilee Williams, 79, was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment and taken to city jail after a testy exchange during the Dec. 4 meeting of the Tarrant, Ala. City Council. City Of Tarrant

Newton later told the outlet that although he wasn’t involved with Williams’ arrest, “you can’t go putting your hands on people.”

“I wasn’t there, and she was arrested when she put her hands on the city accountant. It was the city accountant who wanted to press charges against her. I didn’t even know that it had happened until people started calling me,” he said.

Newton could not be immediately reached by email.

Williams declined to speak on the incident to AL.com but said she had retained an attorney.

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“Everything is well, and I don’t have a grudge against Wayman and that young lady,” Williams told AL.com after her arrest. “I pray for them.”

Speaking to the outlet, Councilwoman Freeman vowed to “fight for” Williams.

“There are some rules for some and then there are rules for others,” she said.

“I can only go by my experience. When a certain person gets attacked, it is a problem. They went overboard in doing that to Ms. Williams.”

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Alabama

Alabama Announces Big Kalen DeBoer News on Friday

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Alabama Announces Big Kalen DeBoer News on Friday


Kalen DeBoer is entering a pivotal second season as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide after taking over for Nick Saban in 2024. In his debut season, Alabama narrowly missed the 12-team College Football Playoff, finishing with a 9–4 overall record and 5–3 in SEC play. While last season is now in the rearview, DeBoer has found himself back in the spotlight this week following the announcement of the highly anticipated College Football 26 video game cover, which features Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams.



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Two Alabama universities drop their Dual Enrollment program tuition rates

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Two Alabama universities drop their Dual Enrollment program tuition rates


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Two major universities in Alabama are working to make college a little more affordable and they’re starting with high school students.

The University of Alabama and Jacksonville State University are reducing their dual enrollment tuition rate by hundreds of dollars.

Officials at both schools believe this makes it more affordable for students to get a financial break on their college education.

Jacksonville State leaders say it just made sense when it comes to affordability. The reduction there is about 80%.

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“Our dual enrollment tuition has been lower than our traditional students for several years now, and affordability continues to be a primary factor for consideration here,” said JSU associate vice president of enrollment management, Jessica Wiggins.

Here are the new numbers; Jacksonville State reduced its dual enrollment tuition to $33 per credit hour or $99 for a standard 3-hour course.

“So this will hopefully make it much more affordable for our families,” said Wiggins.

And Jacksonville State’s not alone. The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa is offering the same reduction – a drop of more than 90%, according to university officials.

Wiggins says so far there have been positive reactions from parents and high school counselors through phone calls, emails and social media, but it’s still too early to say just how many high schoolers will take advantage of the tuition drop. However, Wiggins anticipates a major uptick in enrollment based on what happened last fall, before the reduction was even considered.

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“In the fall of ’24, we saw a 20% increase in our dual enrollment population from the prior fall, so we are certainly prepared for that,” said Wiggins.

Jacksonville State leaders say students in high school must have a 3.0 GPA and be in the tenth grade before they can enroll in the dual enrollment program.

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Alabama basketball’s Labaron Philon leaves fans ‘most caught off guard’ since exit of Nick Saban

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Alabama basketball’s Labaron Philon leaves fans ‘most caught off guard’ since exit of Nick Saban


Alabama basketball fans were left stunned when the news dropped that Labaron Philon would be returning to Tuscaloosa for a second season.

With only 28 minutes to the withdrawal deadline for the 2025 NBA Draft, UA’s NIL collective Yea Alabama announced that the Mobile native removed his name to come back to college, adding to a wild day for what X users call “IBOB Twitter” hours after Tahaad Pettiford said he will play his sophomore season at Auburn. Exactly a month after he declared for the draft, Philon told media on May 14 that the “door was closed” on a comeback at UA.

Those who tune in for Crimson Tide hoops had accepted the fact that Philon was a one-and-done wonder. He wouldn’t grace the court in Coleman Coliseum again, or lift a trophy for a historic national championship. As of late Wednesday night, that’s fiction.

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Philon said it best in an Instagram post inspired by his idol, Michael Jordan: “I’m back.”

Here were some of the top reactions from social media.

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Alabama basketball fans left ‘shocked’ by return of Labaron Philon

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.





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