Articles written by joe thomas


Sorted by date  Results 26 - 50 of 1717

Page Up

  • Sheriff, DA named in lawsuit

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 28, 2024

    Escambia County (Ala.) School Board Members Sherry Digmon and Cindy Jackson, along with Atmore News reporter Don Fletcher and school system employee and payroll supervisor Ashley Fore filed a lawsuit last Friday in federal court accusing District Attorney Steve Billy, Sheriff Heath Jackson and four deputy sheriffs of violating their constitutional rights. The four are seeking compensatory and punitive damages in an amount in excess of $75,000 each, plus attorneys’ fees, “as well as any oth...

  • Atmore stops lead to five drug arrests

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 28, 2024

    Atmore police made four traffic stops that led to drug arrests and another drug arrest was made as officers found drugs while making contact with an individual who had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. On Nov. 16, Atmore police initiated a traffic stop on Rockaway Creek Road on a vehicle with an expired tag that led to the passenger being arrested for possessing methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana (spice), marijuana and items used to ingest narcotics. The passenger, identified as Calvin...

  • Troopers bust two with drugs on I-65

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 28, 2024

    A state trooper stop on Interstate 65 in Escambia County, Ala., led to the arrest of two Louisiana men on multiple drug charges including trafficking and one suspect, who was identified as a convicted felon, was also charged with for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Markell Ariana Ross, 25, of Marrero, La., and Alvin Tyrone Butcher III, 25, of Gretna, La., were both charged with two counts of drug trafficking, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession...

  • Grinch helps kick off Brewton's Christmas

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 28, 2024

    The Grinch was in Brewton Thursday night for the chamber of commerce's annual Holiday Kickoff to bring people to town to help local businesses as the holiday season begins....

  • Football season ends for Tigers

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 28, 2024

    Class 3A's No. 1 ranked T.R. Miller Tigers saw their season come to an end with a late touchdown by Houston Academy 17-14 ending Miller's season and eliminating all teams in the tri-city area from the playoffs....

  • Century moves forward on sewer grant

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 28, 2024

    At it’s Nov. 19 meeting, the Century Town Council approved a request to award Talcon Group the contract to complete phase II lift station project of miscellaneous wastewater improvements at the town’s wastewater facility, with the town supplying $200,000 from Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds. Municipal Engineering’s Dale Long told the council when the base bids to complete the project came, both were way over budget. “One bid was $7.6 million and the high bidder was $12.2 million, and we have...

  • Fire chief's training saves life

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 21, 2024

    Due to the quick response from Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, Paxton Gibson, who turned 3 weeks old yesterday (Wednesday) is alive and well after the infant was close to death Sunday night. The events began unfolding at 11:24 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, when 21-year old Olivia Gibson dialed 911 and told the Flomaton dispatcher that her 3-week old child was not breathing and she had begun CPR and gave the address of 135 Bridal Path Lane. Stanton said he got out of bed and headed that way and then...

  • Dr. Adkisson wants doctors on the board

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 21, 2024

    Retired Brewton physician Dr. Jimmy Adkisson was back before the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission Tuesday afternoon asking that board to appoint some physicians to the Escambia County Healthcare Authority. The meeting was also attended by hospital administrators, healthcare authority members and the authority's CEO. "Is there any way we can be elected to the board?" Adkisson asked the commission. "We'd like to have representation. We are not here to accuse anyone. They inherited an...

  • Traffic stops lead to 4 drug arrests

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 21, 2024

    Three separate traffic stops in Flomaton led to four arrests on drug charges that included the possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. On Oct. 30, Flomaton Police Officer Derrick Hodges initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck at the intersection of Roosevelt Street and Highway 29 for a seatbelt violation. Hodges reported the driver was acting suspicious and the K-9 was dispatched to the scene. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle which led to a search where officers located two sm...

  • Flomaton awarded $400,000 for sewer

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 21, 2024

    The town of Flomaton has been awarded a $400,000 grant to replace or improve sewage lift stations on Palafox Street and Cary Street. The announcement was made during a council meeting last Thursday with the town pledging a $69,000 match on the project. Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, sent a letter to Mayor Johnson dated Nov. 8, noting the ADECA grant was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mayor Johnson...

  • A record in Brewton

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 21, 2024

    The Brewton Lions Club’s annual car show drew a record crowd of 81 vehicles in downtown Brewton Saturday with participants traveling from multiple states to participate. For more, see Page 3....

  • Atmore man is shot in drive-by

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 14, 2024

    A little more than a week after multiple shots were fired in the 400 block of 4th Avenue in Atmore, an Atmore resident was shot Saturday afternoon in what police say was a drive-by shooting. According to Atmore police, shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, police received a telephone call from a female stating her brother had been shot on Brooks Lane. Police and medics were dispatched to the scene. When officers arrived they reported finding a male victim with two gunshot wounds to his lower...

  • Honoring veterans

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 14, 2024

    Flomaton Elementary School students welcome veterans to the high school's auditorium Friday for a special Veterans Day celebration of elementary and high school students to honor the men and women who have fought for freedom. See more on Page 3....

  • Wiggins, Smith are sworn in on board

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 14, 2024

    Escambia County District Judge Eric Coale issued the oath of office to County Commissioners Raymond Wiggins and Brandon Smith Wednesday morning after the two were re-elected without opposition in the Nov. 5 General Election. The county commission held its organizational meeting Wednesday as required by law following the election. Wiggins’ and Smith’s terms on the commission officially ended at 12 a.m. Wednesday, so Vice Chairman Larry White opened the meeting. After Wiggins and Smith were swo...

  • Music on the Porch in Brewton

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 14, 2024

    Huge crowds came to Brewton Saturday for the annual Porchfest with artists entertaining and crowds enjoying an afternoon of fun, food and entertainment. For more see Page 7....

  • Escambia is 'blue' as it can be

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    Escambia County (Ala.) followed the red wave across the nation in putting its support behind Donald Trump and every other Republican on Tuesday's ballot that led to Democrat incumbent District 2 school board member Danny Benjamin being defeated by Republican challenger Greg Dawkins. "I've enjoyed all my 36 years on the school board," Benjamin said Tuesday night inside the Escambia County Courthouse. "I wish nothing but the best for our schools and I wish Mr. Dawkins all the best." Benjamin...

  • Gunshots ring out Oct. 31 in Atmore

    Joe Thomas|Nov 7, 2024

    The Atmore police is seeking the public’s help in identifying suspects in a Halloween Night shooting where nobody was injured but police recovered 49 spent shell casings fired from three different firearms. Police were dispatched to a residence on the 400 block of 4th Avenue at 9:46 p.m., Oct. 31, in reference to shots fired into a residence. When officers arrived they reported finding the spent shell casings and multiple residences and vehicles had been struck by gunfire. Atmore police said m...

  • Hugh White festival for young and old

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    A huge crowd showed up Saturday for the annual Hugh White fall festival and Pollard-Mccall Jr. High School for a day of games, food and entertainment. For more see Page 12....

  • Rescue squad trains its new dive team

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    Members of the Escambia County Rescue Squad were in Flomaton Tuesday and Wednesday at Hurricane Lake to certify four divers and four surface personnel that will create the first certified dive and rescue squad in the county. Brandon Barlow, president of the rescue squad and a full time fireman with the Brewton Fire Department, spearheaded the creation of the dive squad. Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson and Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said having a certified dive team in the county...

  • Jackson's charges expunged

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    Escambia County (Ala.) School Board Member Cindy Jackson's arrest for revealing grand jury secrets were earlier dismissed and now Jackson's record has been expunged, meaning there is no record of her arrest in court files. Jackson, along with school board member Sherry Digmon, school board employee Ashley Fore and Atmore News reporter Don Fletcher were arrested and charged with revealing secrets grand jury information. Digmon was also charged with an ethics violation for using her position on th...

  • Sheriff's K-9 dog left in vehicle, dies

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Heath Jackson said the department’s K-9 dog died after being left inside a vehicle and the K-9 officer has been terminated and an investigation is ongoing. Sheriff Jackson said the incident occurred on Oct. 11 after the K-9 deputy finished a night shift and subsequently left the dog in the car. The deputy discovered the dead dog after waking up. Jackson said following the preliminary investigation the K-9 deputy was terminated. “We are committed to ensuring acc...

  • Flomaton to spend grant $ on lagoon

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    During a special meeting last Wednesday, the Flomaton Town Council approved a resolution to award the low bid of $1,219,575 from L&K Contracting Co., Inc., of Dothan to make repairs and upgrades to the town’s sewer lagoon while Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye said he feels he can negotiate the bid below the $1.1 million grant amount. Flomaton received the $1.1 million grant through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management through the state’s Clean Water Revolving Fund. Moye not...

  • Jay homecoming queen 2024 crowned

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    The Century Town Council Tuesday night unanimously approved a bid from Weston and Sampson to complete the tier 2 Environmental Assessment and public outreach for the gate station (where the gas comes into the town) and meter replacement project based on a recommendation from Florida Gas Utility (FGU). The Town of Century has been awarded $793,011 through the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety...

  • Thousands flood Flomaton for 'safe night' fun

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Oct 31, 2024

  • Gathering in Flomaton

    Joe Thomas, Ledger Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    From the pumpkin patch to Batman and Spiderman to ghosts, goblins and more, a huge crowd flooded downtown Flomaton Tuesday night for the annual festival with fun, games, food and of course a lot of candy. See more on Page 3....

Page Down

Rendered 01/18/2025 12:56