NewsDon Fletcher

BOE buys textbooks, prepares for revamped ACMPS
By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer As the current school year rapidly approaches its end, Escambia County education officials are continuing to prepare for next year. During the March 20 meeting of the Escambia County Board of Education, members approved the expenditure of more than a half-million dollars for textbooks that will be used systemwide during the next school term (see details in “other business”). They also approved more than…
Felony arrests
Chase leads to recovery of stolen weapons, several ounces of pot By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer The following felony arrests were reported by officers of the Atmore Police Department (APD) during the period March 14-23:Mar’Kavion DixonEric Reed Dixon Reed On March 14, at approximately 10:55 a.m., an Atmore police officer was dispatched to Spudd’s at 1771 Highway 21 in reference to a traffic accident.The reporting party informed the dispatcher the…
Church in flames
Lightning strike triggers destructive blaze at First Presbyterian Firefighters sprayed thousands of gallons of water on the flames. By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer State investigators have confirmed that a lightning strike was responsible for the Saturday, March 15, fire that effectively destroyed First Presbyterian Church of Atmore’s sanctuary and connected buildings.Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office investigators were on the scene early Sunday and announced Monday that lightning — spawned by a…
Plea deals
By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer English For the third time in just over a year, an individual initially charged with capital murder in the shooting death of an Atmore resident was allowed to swap a plea to much lesser charges for a time-served release from jail.The most recent occurrence came last week, when retired Baldwin County Circuit Judge Charles Partin, who was appointed to hear the capital case against Anthony…
EA’s Webster is AISA’s top coach; Watson, Stevens earn All-State honors
Webster By DON FLETCHERNews Staff Writer Jerome Webster, who guided Escambia Academy’s boys basketball team to this season’s Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class A state championship, has been selected by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) as the state’s AISA Coach of the Year.One of Webster’s veteran players earned a first-team slot on ASWA’s all-classification All State team, and a senior who was playing his first full season at…