NewsDon Fletcher

No new contract for schools chief despite solid evaluation
By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Although Escambia County Board of Education members gave Superintendent of Education Michele McClung an overwhelmingly satisfactory evaluation during a special August 30 meeting, a majority of the board still refused to move forward with a motion to renew McClung’s contract, which expires in less than 10 months.BOE Attorney Kirk Garrett told board members, who filled out evaluations over several days and returned them to him,…
Signing off – WGYJ’s last broadcast
David Gehman, standing, and Martin Gehman, seated, share memories on the last day of their broadcast By SHERRY DIGMONNews Publisher David Gehman and his dad, Martin, were in one area of the studio. David’s brother Jerry Gehman was in another area. All were broadcasting on WGYJ – for the final time. The radio station went off the air Sunday evening, September 3, but the live broadcasts ended Thursday morning, August…
Brewton man will apparently serve entire sentence
McKenzie By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer A Brewton man who has served all but a few months of a 15-year sentence for possessing and distributing drugs, will apparently serve every day of that sentence.Terrez McKenzie, who spent more than four years in the county jail before he was transferred to state custody, was considered but rejected for parole on July 11 and again on August 31.McKenzie has spent 14 years…
Felony arrests
Atmore man charged in sexual assault of child Smith Hartley McNeal Ellis McCurdy By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Details were not immediately available, but the Escambia County Detention Center (ECDC) website shows that sheriff’s investigators recently arrested a 31-year-old Atmore man for an alleged sexual assault on a child.Nicholas Dewayne Smith was arrested August 28. He is being held in the county jail on one count each of Class B…
Clarke Prep wins over EA
By PATRICK BYRDNews Sports Writer The Escambia Academy Cougars were excited to finally play on home turf Thursday, August 31, after the game was moved ahead from Friday night. Their opponents, the Clarke Prep School Gators, marked the first region game for the Cougars.The Cougar captains Quinten Odom, Luke Bell, Charlie Sasser, and Zeke McElhaney met the Gator captains at midfield for the coin toss. The Cougars won and chose…