HeadlinesDon Fletcher

Chili cook-off crowd light but enthusiastic – With photo gallery
A light but enthusiastic crowd turned out for Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Chili Cook-off, held Saturday (March 4) at Heritage Park. Fewer than 100 individuals were drawn to the park by the smells that emanated from cauldrons of bubbling concoctions consisting of various meats, light and dark beans, an occasional vegetable and peppers, plenty of peppers. And each vat of spicy stew also contained at least one…
Detained at daycare – Man questioned by local, federal authorities, released
An Illinois man who lingered in his van at a local daycare center didn’t wind up in jail on Thursday, February 23. But he drew plenty of attention from city, county and federal law enforcement officers before he was released. Four Atmore Police Department patrol officers, a city detective, a patrol deputy and K-9 team from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and two U.S. Marshals eventually wound up at Little…
New coach hired at ECHS
The search for a new head football coach and athletic director at Escambia County High School officially ended last Thursday, February 23, when the Escambia County Board of Education accepted the recommendation of a six-member search committee and hired Aliceville High’s Rico Jackson to fill the vacancy. Jackson, who led the Yellow Jackets to the 2016 Class 2A finals, was one of 64 applicants who sought to replace Royce Young,…
Home destroyed by Friday fire
A Marshall Avenue home, vacant except for a canine occupant that lost its life, was destroyed when fire swept through the structure around 1 a.m., Friday, February 24. The home’s western end was already engulfed in flames when the first Atmore Fire Department fire-suppression units arrived. It quickly spread through the house’s upper portion, and within 10 minutes almost the entire structure was ablaze. The fire’s flare could be seen…
ECMS teacher arrested after pot found in classroom
An Escambia County Middle School teacher was arrested Friday morning (Feb. 24) after she was found to be in possession of an undisclosed quantity of marijuana inside her classroom. According to a press release from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were sent to ECMS after the principal reported that there was a strong odor of what she believed to be marijuana coming from a specific area inside the school.…