Author: Don Fletcher

Jodi James talks about Relay for Life. Chief Chuck Brooks seen in background. By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Atmore City Council members, during their June 12 meeting, gave final approval to a zoning map amendment, agreed to sell the timber off a city-owned property and approved several events at local parks and other sites.Prior to approval of the zoning change, a public hearing was held to seek comments for or…

Crutchfield’s plane prepares to spray. Inset, one of three bullet holes. By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Although Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators don’t have much to go on, they are still working to find out who fired several gunshots at an area crop duster’s airplane, hitting it at least three times.“We have an open case on it; we’ve got an investigator assigned to it,” Sheriff Heath Jacksons said this week.…

Rounsavall By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Atmore businessman Shawn Rounsavall was released from the Escambia County Detention Center last week after spending just over three months behind bars.According to an employee of the jail’s booking and release division, Rounsavall’s $500,000 bond was posted May 30 by an area bonding agency. A request by Rounsavall’s attorney for a reduction in the bond had been rejected earlier by District Court Judge Eric…

By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Gov. Kay Ivey announced recently that Atmore Police Department has been awarded a $24,000 grant for the purchase of new software for APD’s in-car computers, an upgrade that will make it easier for officers to share information while on patrol.APD Chief Chuck Brooks said the latest round of funding provides money to help enhance an important aspect of police work.“When we have an opportunity to…

By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer The Escambia County Board of Education, sitting one member short, gave unanimous approval during a June 1 special meeting to the expenditure of more than $650,000 to pave the way for portable classrooms at Flomaton Elementary School, which is, figuratively speaking, bursting at the seams.The action increases the estimated cost to nearly $1 million of helping the school deal with a continued influx of students…