Author: Don Fletcher

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Although the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus COVID-19 is still showing a decline statewide, the numbers reported for Escambia County show a significant increase over last week’s figures. Statewide testing results show that 72 cases of the virus have been confirmed among county residents, up from 49 on May 29. Those figures include testing done on local individuals at any site within…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer As protests over the death of George Floyd — the man killed by Minneapolis, Minnesota, police on Memorial Day — continued to spread across the nation and into lower Alabama, Atmore police are prepared for the possibility the dissent might make its way into the city. “We have a plan in place if it does,” Police Chief Chuck Brooks said Monday, June 1. “We’ve…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Despite evidence that the spread of COVID-19 is on the decline, another five Escambia County residents have tested positive for the virus since state and local health officials issued their last update on May 22. According to Escambia County Healthcare Authority and Alabama Department of Public Health statistics, 452 samples have been collected at Atmore Community Hospital, where 401 have tested negative for the…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer A group of Atmore residents, in conjunction with Feeding the Gulf Coast, plans to distribute — without restrictions — about five tons of food to local and area residents this Saturday, May 30. “We are going to give out 10,000 pounds of food to the citizens of Atmore and the surrounding area,” said a spokesperson for the local coalition sponsoring the event. “We’ll start…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer City of Atmore work crews were at work early Tuesday, re-installing basketball goals at two municipal parks and otherwise preparing for this week’s re-opening of all municipal greenspaces, most of which became accessible to the public again on Tuesday, May 26. The park re-openings were made a priority after Gov. Kay Ivey announced last week several amendments to her initial Safer at Home Order,…