Year: 2021

In photo at top, smoke billows from a Beck Street home that caught fire early Saturday, January 2. City firefighters were dispatched at 7:31 a.m., arrived three minutes later, and spent nearly 90 minutes battling the blaze, which was blamed on an electrical short. The home was declared a total loss. In photo at below, AFD Chief Ron Peebles provides instruction as Firefighter Trent Peebles directs water onto a January…

Gloria Jones, Kenny Smith, Bobby Davis By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Although West Escambia Utilities still has plenty of veteran employees, the local utility lost eight decades of experience last week when Bobby Davis and Gloria Marshall Jones each clocked in — and out — for the final time. Bobby, who has been with WEU for 43 years, and Gloria, who has worked there “only” 37 years, were honored…

Smith By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer An Atmore man, picked up by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a probation violation charge, found himself further charged with four drug-related offenses after he was booked into the county jail. Sheriff’s reports show that 41-year-old LaPatrick Devon Smith, apparently of a Jack Springs Road address, was arrested December 15 on the probation warrant and was processed into the Escambia County Detention…

Harrell By SHERRY DIGMON News Publisher On hearing of Ruth Harrell’s passing Thursday, December 31, one of her friends said, “So much knowledge passed with her.” It could be said of Ruth Harrell that a library died when she died. Ruth lived between Atmore and Flomaton, but her home was all of Escambia County, and she worked tirelessly to improve healthcare for her fellow residents. Her work in healthcare and…