Robert Wesley Bartley
January 29, 2026
Robert Wesley Bartley, born October 10, 1953, in Century, FL, and a resident of Atmore, AL, for the past 38 years, passed away at his home on January 28, 2026.
Robert is preceded by his parents Robert L. and Mary B. Bartley of McDavid, FL.
Robert is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Gladys Marie Bartley. Gladys has stood beside him through a 10-year-long illness, as his loving wife, caregiver, a precious daughter-in-law, sister-in-law and aunt.
Robert is survived by a sister, Mary Lorene (Merle) Whitmire of McDavid, FL, two brothers, Troy Randall Bartley of Atmore and Ricky L. Bartley of McDavid, one niece Darla F. Wilson of Spanish Fort, AL, and one nephew Brian Belle, 2 great-grandnieces, one great-nephew and six great-great-nieces and nephews.
Robert graduated from Tate High School and moved to McDavid, FL, at 18.
Wallace Ray Byrd
January 29, 2026
Mr. Wallace Ray Byrd, who was 79 years old, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in Atmore, Alabama. He was originally from Oak Grove, Florida, but spent most of his life in Atmore. Mr. Byrd was a cherished member of Stockton Baptist Church, where he found community and support throughout the years. His presence will be missed by all who knew him.
He was a passionate outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. With skilled hands, he worked as a carpenter and was also talented in paint and body work. As a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and a Shriner, he valued community and service. He enjoyed listening to gospel music and cherished time spent with family and friends. Always friendly and ready to lend a hand, he loved talking to others. After spending twenty-six years with Scott Paper Company and Kimberly Clark, he also took on the role of shop foreman at Hendrix Tractor Company. He was also a retired Staff Sergeant in the Alabama National Guard. His life was marked by hard work, joy in simple pleasures, and a deep connection to those around him.
Preceded in death by his parents, A.G. and Ila Mae Killam Byrd; brother-in-law, Henry Lindsey; nephew, Keith Lindsey.
Survivors include his loving wife of fifty-three years, Helen Byrd of Atmore, Alabama; sons, Chris Byrd (Kathy) of Atmore, Alabama and Bryan Byrd (Angel) Elm Grove, Louisiana; sister, Jean Lindsey of Atmore, Alabama; grandchildren, Justin Byrd (Brooke) and Daisy Byrd; great-grandchildren, Cali Odom and Camden Byrd.
The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC, officiated by Reverend Otis Thames.
After the service, he will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC.
The pallbearers will Ronald Byrd, Sonny Evans, Joe Witherington, Eddie Bexley, Fritz Currie and Steven Smith.
Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Dunn, Matt Cooper, Dewayne Killam and Fred Peavy.
One Charged With Attempted Murder For MLK Day Shooting In Atmore
January 28, 2026
One suspect has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Atmore.
Nathaniel Crenshaw surrendered at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder, four counts of discharging a firearm into an unoccupied building, and shooting into an occupied building. He is being held without bond.
Police are still searching for 23-year-old E’monee Demontae Long (pictured left) in connection with the investigation on the charge of certain persons (felon) forbidden to possess a firearm. Additional charges are expected, according to police.
On January 22, Atmore Police executed a search warrant at 310 Everette Street. As officers arrived to begin the search, multiple people fled the residence and ran into a wooded area, prompting a manhunt.
MLK Day Shooting
A day of celebration ended in gunfire Monday night as a shooting following an MLK Day block party in Atmore left two people injured and investigators searching for those responsible.
According to the Atmore Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Carver Avenue and Ashley Street at approximately 9:06 p.m. on January 19. The shooting occurred shortly after a day-long “MLK Car Meet and Block Party” had concluded. The event had been widely advertised on social media and drew a large crowd to the area.
Patrol officers arrived on the scene in less than one minute to find that over 30 rounds had been fired. Police confirmed two victims suffered gunshot wounds. One of the victims, a male subject, was reportedly shot while attempting to assist another person to safety. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital and are currently listed in stable condition.
FDLE Agents Search McDavid Home
January 28, 2026
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was involved in an apparent search in McDavid Wednesday morning.
Shortly after 7 a.m. about two dozen unmarked vehicles and an FDLE Bearcat tactical armored vehicle converged on a house in the 100 block of Highway 164, about one-third of a mile west of Highway 29.
Numerous agents were seen entering and exiting the small 1,500-square-foot single family home, and around campers located on the property.
“FDLE is on-site as part of an active investigation,” FDLE confirmed to NorthEscambia.com by email. “We don’t have additional information to share, as the investigation is still active and ongoing.”
Before the operation, the agents gathered on Main Street in McDavid, across from the Post Office, to organize and prepare.
This story will be updated as we learn more details.
Pictured: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an operation on Wednesday morning on Highway 164 in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: FDLE gathered with their Bearcat tactical vehicle across from the Post Office to prepare for the operation (reader submitted photo).
Six Months Later, Walnut Hill Post Office Remains Closed Over Issues With USPS
January 28, 2026
It’s been six months since the Escambia River Electric Cooperative Walnut Hill office reopened after being closed for nearly a year due to mold. But EREC’s contract post office for Walnut Hill remains closed.
The Walnut Hill post office is officially known as a Contract Postal Unit, a small office shared with the electric utility on Highway 99A across from Ernest Ward Middle School. It provided the Walnut Hill community with post office boxes, package pick up and shipping, and normal postal services like mailing and stamps.
The building was closed by EREC in August 2024 due to mold, and post office box customers were able to collect their mail from the U.S. Post Office on Main Street in McDavid. Post office box mail that was uncollected in McDavid was boxed in Walnut Hill on July 29, 2025, and EREC announced the reopening of its office and the post office.
EREC soon learned it was a one-time drop of the previously held mail, and it would not be able to operate the post office until conditions were met and a new contract was established.
Now, EREC says the USPS contract is complete, but they lack access to a USPS scanner required for operation and that they have had difficulty in getting cooperation from the postal service to fix the problems.
“We are working with post office management and trying to get the two IT departments together,” EREC CEO Ryan Campbell said this week. “We are trying to fix the problem configuration with the package scanner.”
In the meantime, the USPS has denied an EREC offer to provide mail services and not packages until the scanner problem is rectified.
“As an added convenience to its customers, the Postal Service offers Contract Postal Units (CPUs) around the nation, such as the one located in the Escambia River Electric Cooperative CPU. Local postal management continues to work with the CPU operator to resolve any outstanding issues at this location,” Tiffany Rowland, Strategic Communications Specialist for the U.S. Postal Service, told NorthEscambia.com this week. She said Walnut Hill post office customers may continue to access mail services by driving to the McDavid Post Office during regular hours.
Campbell said EREC is continuing to work with postal officials for a solution.
“We look forward to getting the post office back open for our membership,” he said.
Pictured top: EREC employee Kim Lambert boxes old mail Tuesday afternoon in contract post office inside the EREC Walnut Hill office. It was the last time the U.S. Postal Service delivered mail to the Walnut Hill Post Office. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Police Arrest Four On Dozens Of Charges, Fifth Suspect Sought In Firearms Theft
January 28, 2026
The Flomaton Police Department has arrested four suspects and is looking for a fifth suspect in connection with the theft of a gun safe that contained several firearms.
The four suspects arrested are:
- Michael Colton Adams — 11 counts of felony second degree theft of property, one count of felony third degree theft of property
- Wendall Ervin Adams – eight felony counts of receiving stolen property
- Lynsey Marie Nix — 11 counts of felony second degree theft of property, one count of felony third degree theft of property
- Danny Lamar McCrory — 11 counts of felony second degree theft of property, one count of felony third degree theft of property
Flomaton PD is continuing to search for a fifth suspect on outstanding warrants. The suspect’s name has not been released.
Pictured top: (top row, L-R) Michael Adams, Wendall Adams, (bottom row, L-R) Lynsey Nix, and Danny McCrory.
ECSO: When Your Art Project Goes Criminal
January 28, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 19-year-old after an alleged graffiti spree.
In a release titled “When Your Art Project Goes…Criminal”, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Orion Sky Dickinson was arrested Tuesday after deputies responded to a reported vandalism in progress at Fast Eddie’s Fun Center. Deputies reported finding Dickinson there with spray paint on him. He’s accused of also spray painting a Sheriff’s Office speed trailer and several street signs.
Dickinson was charged with felony criminal mischief, misdemeanor criminal mischief, resisting without violence, possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,500 bond.
Community Health Pharmacist, Alleged Accomplice Face Federal Drug Charges
January 28, 2026
A Community Health Northwest Florida (CHNWF) pharmacist and his alleged accomplice are facing federal drug charges.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Douglas Craig Reid Jr., and Martrice Lamar Portis, both 47 years old, were both charged in federal court with conspiracy to unlawfully dispense and distribute controlled substances and to obtain controlled substances by fraud.
Reid is a pharmacist with CHNWF.
“Community Health Northwest Florida will cooperate with any investigation, and we remain committed to our mission of serving our patients and the greater Northwest Florida community,” CHNWF said in a statement.
Trial for both defendants is currently set for March 2 before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division, with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. According to court documents, this case is related to a prior case that was indicted as part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes.
Pictured: Douglas Reid, Jr. (left) from CHNWF and Martice Portis in a 2025 mugshot from an unrelated arrest (right).
Ransom and Ferry Pass Middle Schools Honored with Statewide Music Awards
January 28, 2026
Last weekend at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference, Ferry Pass Middle School and Ransom Middle School were awarded the Music Enrollment Awards for having over 45% of students enrolled in choir, band, or orchestra.
Half of Ransom’s students and 47% of Ferry Pass students are enrolled in a music education course.
The FMEA Professional Learning Conference is one of the largest music education professional learning events in the United States.
Pictured: Ransom Middle School (top) and Ferry Pass Middle School (below) were honored with statewide music awards. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Intermittent Lane Closures Through Friday On North Century Boulevard
January 28, 2026
Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures through Friday on North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) from Tedder Road north to East Highway 4, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Crews will be conducting coring operations. Coring involves using equipment to remove a vertical sample (a “core”) from the pavement.
The coring operations are set to take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day through Friday.