Author: Don Fletcher

By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Atmore City Council, sitting one member short, approved during the panel’s Monday, March 24, meeting a lease of 34 acres of farmland adjacent to Atmore Municipal Airport.Under terms of the lease agreement, the lessee, Michael Glick, will pay (or has already paid) $3,400 to use the land for “the sole purpose of planting, cultivating and harvesting agriculture crops.”Glick also agreed to obtain a general liability…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer As the current school year rapidly approaches its end, Escambia County education officials are continuing to prepare for next year. During the March 20 meeting of the Escambia County Board of Education, members approved the expenditure of more than a half-million dollars for textbooks that will be used systemwide during the next school term (see details in “other business”). They also approved more than…

Lightning strike triggers destructive blaze at First Presbyterian Firefighters sprayed thousands of gallons of water on the flames. By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer State investigators have confirmed that a lightning strike was responsible for the Saturday, March 15, fire that effectively destroyed First Presbyterian Church of Atmore’s sanctuary and connected buildings.Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office investigators were on the scene early Sunday and announced Monday that lightning — spawned by a…

By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer English For the third time in just over a year, an individual initially charged with capital murder in the shooting death of an Atmore resident was allowed to swap a plea to much lesser charges for a time-served release from jail.The most recent occurrence came last week, when retired Baldwin County Circuit Judge Charles Partin, who was appointed to hear the capital case against Anthony…