Author: Don Fletcher

Owens By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Former Atmore Mayor Dr. Rodney Owens, a local chiropractor who later taught Agriculture Science classes at Escambia County High School (ECHS), passed away Sunday morning, November 2, after a brief illness.Owens served as the city’s chief executive from 1996 to 2000, between the first and second Howard Shell administrations. As mayor, he supported historic preservation and the arts, applying for several grants that were…

By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) deputy was fired and faces criminal charges after he left the K-9 officer in his charge inside his vehicle for several hours, causing the canine’s death.The county lawman reportedly finished an overnight shift, went home and went to bed, with the animal still inside the ECSO patrol vehicle. When he awoke, he found the four-legged deputy’s body.The human deputy,…

From left Kevin Hoomes, Superintendent Dr. Michele Collier and Coleman Wallace By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer The Monday, November 4, meeting of the Escambia County Board of Education marked a changing of the guard, in more ways than one. BOE members selected, by a 4-3 vote, District 7’s Coleman Wallace as the board’s new president, then gave unanimous approval to the selection of District 1’s Kevin Hoomes as vice…

Rutherford becomes first PCI tribal member to serve as police chief At the ceremony Monday, from left, Judge Joe Brogden, Stephanie Bryan, Police Chief Chris Rutherford By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Chris Rutherford made Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) history on Monday, October 28, when he became the first tribal member to serve as chief of PCI’s police department.Rutherford was surrounded by more than 70 tribal officials, family members,…