NewsDon Fletcher

2018 Elections – Races taking shape as qualifying continues
The qualifying period for those who wish to seek state or local offices will continue through February 9, but many races — especially for governor and including one for a key county office — have already developed. Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith, who has been in office since 2003, is not seeking reelection, and two veteran lawmen had already qualified by January 22 to become the county’s top law enforcement…
Where there’s smoke …
AFD Capt. Zack Stewart sets up an exhaust fan to pull smoke from a single-wide mobile home that caught fire around 7 p.m. on January 20, at North Main Mobile Home Park. Preliminary indications are that the small fire was caused by a partially extinguished cigarette that fell into a trash can and ignited some paper. Damage, which was contained to the home’s only bathroom, was minimal.
Atmore named one of state’s 50 safest cities
For the second year in a row, the National Council for Home Safety and Security has named Atmore one of Alabama’s 50 safest cities. The ratings, which put Helena — a suburb of Birmingham — at the top of the list were based upon occurrences of violent crime and property crime in 2017. Four of the safest cities, according to the trade association of home security professionals, were in the…
Inmates charged Local man assaults jailer; another gropes female CO
A local man is considered the primary instigator of a recent two-inmate assault that left a county jailer with several serious injuries and was the second incident in just over four weeks involving an inmate from Atmore who physically tested the authority of an officer at the crowded facility. Chief Deputy Mike Lambert of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported January 19 that 23-year-old Tevin Watts, of a U.S. 31…
Harp new Chamber director
Emily Harp hit the ground running … and that’s how she likes it. The new Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce executive director’s first official day is Monday, January 29, but she was at her desk at the Chamber office on South Main last Thursday and Friday, January 18 and 19. She said she doesn’t believe in “dilly dallying” and it’s evident as she talks about her new job. Harp, who…