Author: Don Fletcher

COVID-19 continues to spread; 116 new cases in week By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Although the rate of occurrence seems to have slowed a little, the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus pushed the total confirmed cases count in Escambia County past the 500 mark. Alabama Department of Public Health officials reported in an updated report filed Tuesday, July 14, that 522 county residents have tested positive for the…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer A registered sex offender, who has resided in Atmore since shortly after his release from prison 20 months ago, is back behind bars after he allegedly showed photographs of a pornographic nature to a local teenager. Ernest Powell III, 40 (no local address provided), was arrested Monday, July 13, by Atmore Police Department detectives. He is charged with one count of transmitting obscene material…

Ervin By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer An Atmore man was sentenced July 8 by Escambia County (Fla.) Circuit Judge W. Joel Boles to serve at least 10 years in prison for twice stealing money — once at gunpoint — from a grocery store for which he once worked. According to a Pensacola News Journal report, Maurice Montraye Ervin, 27, was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison,…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Lawson What started as an aggravated assault case on June 29 became a murder investigation on July 4, after a 19-year-old Atmore man died from wounds he suffered when he was shot at a backyard gathering. Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks confirmed late last week that city detectives are now in the midst of a homicide probe in the wake of the death of…