NewsDon Fletcher

Updated info on coronavirus
Governor loosens some guidelines A healthcare worker discards packaging a she prepares to take a COVID-19 sample. By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Gov. Kay Ivey announced the loosening of her Stay-at-Home order Tuesday, April 28, replacing it with a Safer-at-Home order in to try and pump some life into Alabama’s stagnant and dormant economy. “While maintaining focus on our personal health, it’s now time that we also focus on…
Drew, Bolden retiring
Drew Bolden By SHERRY DIGMON News Publisher The Escambia County school system suffered a double blow with recent announcements by Assistant Superintendent Beth Drew and Escambia County Middle School principal Debbie Bolden. Both recently submitted their intentions to retire this summer; both were approved at the board of education meeting Tuesday morning, April 28. With more than 37 years in education, Drew has held several positions – classroom teacher, assistant…
Atmore man slain
Stabbed and shot on Patterson Street Dirden By DON FLETCHER News Staff Writer Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said this week that APD detectives are working overtime to identify and bring to justice the person responsible for Saturday’s fatal shooting and stabbing of an Atmore man. Brooks confirmed Saturday (April 25) that the homicide victim is 43-year-old Desmond Deshun Dirden. Dirden, who had died by the time police and emergency…
Atmore police investigating possible homicide
Atmore police are conducting a death investigation after a man was found shot to death early Saturday morning (April 25) at a local apartment complex. “We’re working it as a homicide,” Chief Chuck Brooks said of the death. Details are sketchy at this time, but APD patrols were dispatched around 1:24 a.m. to Patterson Street Apartments, where shots had been reportedly fired. Officers arrived to find the body of a…
Standoff ends with Atmore man’s surrender
James A 42-year-old Atmore man who barricaded himself inside an Atmore home this morning surrendered to authorities tonight, ending a standoff that had begun nearly 12 hours earlier. Police Chief Chuck Brooks reported that John Bradley James was finally taken into custody after a full day of negotiations finally brought him from inside the home, where he reportedly lives with his parents. He had been labeled “heavily armed” by police,…