Day: August 18, 2021

Approves superintendent contract By SHERRY DIGMONNews Publisher The only constant about COVID-19 is there is no constant.Escambia County public schools started classes with no mask mandate in place, however, that changed at the board of education meeting Thursday, August 12.Superintendent John Knott recommended to the board that a mandate be implemented due to the rising number of cases. The board voted unanimously to implement the mandate effective Friday, August 13,…

Finklea By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer An Atmore man reportedly remained in an area trauma center this week after being stabbed nearly two weeks ago by his brother, who remained behind bars as midweek approached.Police Chief Chuck Brooks reported that Markey Deyeal Finklea, 42, was arrested Saturday, August 7, after police were sent around 1:30 p.m. to a Martin Luther King Drive residence in reference to a domestic dispute that…

Mayor says city will benefit from hospital land swap The 8.83-acre tract the city received from ECHCA By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer The appraised values of the parcels involved indicates that Escambia County Healthcare Authority got the better end of its March 2020 land swap with the City of Atmore. But Mayor Jim Staff said the city would also come out a winner in the long run.According to appraisals conducted…

Special to Atmore News As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.Different eligibility rules apply for deaths that occurred from January 20, 2020 through May 16, 2020 and those that occurred after May 16, 2020.To apply for…

Special to Atmore News Escambia County Health Care Authority (ECHCA) officials announced this week that, at this time, the authority will not require employees to get COVID vaccinations as a condition of employment.“We strongly encourage all employees to get the vaccine, but at this point in time we are not making it mandatory,” ECHCA CEO Jeff Booth said in a press release.The no-shot-required decision comes after a number of large…