Category: Headlines

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Escambia County Healthcare Authority (ECHCA) Chair Debbie Rowell confirmed this week that the struggling healthcare authority has begun searching for the third time since 2016 for a new administrator to take over the top administrative duties at Atmore Community Hospital. The search was necessitated by the recent resignation of Brad Lowery, a 2010 Northview High School graduate who had been in charge of hospital…

Escambia Academy celebrated homecoming festivities Friday, September 27. Ana Chesley Robinson was crowned 2024 Homecoming Queen. She was crowned by 2023 Homecoming Queen Tava Johnson.

Atmore and Poarch firefighters battle the destructive blaze By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Atmore Fire Department Chief Ron Peebles said last week that investigators had not yet determined just what caused a September 24 housefire that consumed a Fennell Street residence.“We’re labeling it as undetermined right now,” Peebles said of the blaze that destroyed the house, a wood frame structure that had no electricity service but indications that people were…

By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer While approval of the FY2025 operating budget was the major business conducted at the Escambia County Board of Education’s September 26 meeting (see separate story, this edition), board members and a state lawmaker combined to provide some good news for four Atmore-area schools. Six BOE members — District 1’s Kevin Hoomes was unable to attend — quickly and unanimously gave the green light to…

City council approves FY2025 financing plan By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Atmore City Council members gave unanimous approval, as expected, to a $15.48 million financing package to cover operations for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins October 1 and ends September 30, 2025.The total of $15,483,460 reflects a six-percent increase over FY2024’s budget and does not include pay raises for city employees.As is usually the case, Atmore Police Department will…