Author: Don Fletcher

State reveals results of tests on ‘Chinese Seeds’ One of the mysterious packages. By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Rick Pate, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), revealed Monday (August 3) the results of tests conducted by a state lab on more than 250 packages of unsolicited seeds, apparently from China, where the COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have started. And, while Pate said nothing sinister has been discovered…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer The number of COVID-19 cases continued to climb this week, locally and statewide, but not at the accelerated pace experienced over recent weeks. More than 6,400 new cases were confirmed across the state over the past four days, according to the twice-weekly report filed jointly by Escambia County Healthcare Authority and Alabama Department of Public Health. The state’s death toll from the virus is…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer The Escambia County Commission will soon have its third chairman in slightly more than eight months. Karean Reynolds, who replaced Raymond Wiggins as the panel’s presiding officer on December 9, 2019, announced July 31 that “a future opportunity which will allow me to better serve our community” has prompted him to step down as commission chair. Reynolds, who was elected to the District 5…

Child rape suspect found asleep on Maxwell Street porch Payne By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Atmore police were able to peacefully take a Baldwin County man into custody on July 30, although the arrest apparently brought a peaceful moment to an end for the suspect. “We had gotten word that he was seen in the Maxwell Street area,” said Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks of 29-year-old Corneise Colins Payne.…

100-plus new cases in county in last 4 days By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Despite Gov. Kay Ivey’s mandatory face-covering edict, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Escambia County residents continued to grow at an alarming rate since July 24. According to an updated report issued by Alabama Department of Public Health on Tuesday, July 28, the county now has or has had 859 confirmed cases of the…