Month: October 2022

Billups Murphy By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer In times of war, if a military leader is felled on the battlefield, a soldier might receive a battlefield promotion, elevating that soldier into an immediate leadership role. To a lesser degree, that’s what happened at Escambia Academy.When an immediate need for a new athletic director and head football coach unexpectedly arose about three weeks ago, school officials turned to Cassidy Murphy and…

By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer The Escambia County Commission, at odds over the proposed elimination of a special projects road crew, passed a $26.5 million budget, but barely, last week.District 5 Commissioner Karean Reynolds and District 1 Commissioner Steven Dickey each voted against the measure, while District 2’s Raymond Wiggins, District 4’s Brandon Smith and District 3’s Scottie Stewart each voted in favor of the funding package for Fiscal Year…

Tiffany Gookin, left, was crowned Escambia Academy Homecoming Queen Friday, September 30, during halftime at the EA game against Hooper Academy. Tiffany was crowned by last year’s homecoming queen, Jamison Janes.

Blackwell Special to Atmore News Jason Blackwell, a high school industrial maintenance teacher at Escambia Career Readiness Center in Brewton, has been named a grand prize winner of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, winning $30,000 for himself and $70,000 for his program.Blackwell’s experience in the skilled trades began when his father, a tradesman, told him, “If you listen to me, I’ll teach you everything…