Let The Tate Shoband Do All Of Your Gift Wrapping This Year
December 23, 2025
The Tate Band Showband of the South will be wrapping gifts for donations through Christmas Eve. Look for the tent at JCPenney on North Davis Highway, just outside the entrance closest to Academy Sports.
Volunteers will be wrapping gifts from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.on Tuesday, and 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Letters To Santa From Byrneville Elementary Second And Third Graders
December 23, 2025
NorthEscambia.com asked second and third grade students at Byrneville Elementary School to write letters to Santa. The letters have already been forwarded to Santa to make sure he knows all their special wishes.
Second grade students in the classes of Miss Smith and Mrs. Moorhead, along with third grade students in the classes of Mrs. Luker and Mrs. deJarnett, wrote letters to Santa.
Byrneville Elementary Fifth Graders Hold Elves Breakfast
December 23, 2025
Byrneville Elementary School fifth graders in Jacke Johnston’s Room 41 held and Elves Breakfast before the Christmas break.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa And Mrs. Claus To Take Last Minute Christmas Eve Trip Through Century, Byrneville
December 23, 2025
Mr. and Mrs. Claus will take a last minute trip through Century and Byrneville on Wednesday morning, December 24, with the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue.
For a detailed map of the route, click or tap here.
The trip begins at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Along the way, Santa will make stops at the Byrneville Community Center and Whataburger.
Pictured: Santa and Mrs. Claus travel through Century on a fire truck on Christmas Eve 2024. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Gets Federal Prison Time For Preparing 20 False Tax Returns
December 23, 2025
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced to federal prison for a fraudulent tax return scheme.
Khristine N. Harper, 42, previously pleaded guilty to 20 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns and one count of identity theft. She was sentenced to two years in federal prison.
“I applaud the excellent investigative work by our federal law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle this offender’s sophisticated fraud scheme,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin. Defrauding the federal government victimizes every tax paying citizen, and my office will aggressively pursue criminal prosecutions of fraudsters to ensure they are held accountable to the full extent of the law for their crimes.”
Court documents reflect that between 2018 and 2024, Harper routinely prepared and filed fraudulent income tax returns for her clients by listing false amounts for various deductions, credits, and other items that were never provided to her by those clients. After Harper became aware in July 2023 that the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation was investigating her, she changed the name of her tax preparation business from Kings Tax Service to Echelon Tax. She also obtained a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) in another person’s name without permission and filed her clients’ 2023 returns using that fraudulently obtained PTIN.
In addition to being sentenced to two years in prison, Harper was ordered to pay $284,490 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service as a condition of a two-year term of supervised release to follow her prison sentence, $132,809.74 in statutorily mandated costs of prosecution, and a $2,100 special monetary assessment.
“Tax return preparers who deliberately file fraudulent returns are committing serious federal crimes with every submission,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the Florida Field Office. “IRS-CI will relentlessly pursue dishonest preparers to protect taxpayers and uphold the integrity of the tax system. Those who break the law will be held accountable—period.”
“This case was the result of coordinated efforts between investigators and prosecutors committed to protecting the public,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “We will continue to aggressively work to identify, investigate and hold accountable those who commit fraud.”
The sentence was the result of a joint investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Photos: Santa Claus Visits Ransom Middle School
December 23, 2025
Santa Claus stopped by Ransom Middle School last week, visiting with students during B lunch.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Clarence Earl Werhan
December 23, 2025
Clarence Earl Werhan age 90 of Gonzalez, Florida was called home to be with the Lord December 11, 2025.
Born February 24, 1935, Clarence was the son of Earl and Lillian Werhan. He graduated from Tate high school in 1953. He retired from Monsanto in 1990 after 35 years of loyal service. He was the owner/operator of Werhan Construction Company and Werhan Christmas Tree Farm. He was respected for his integrity and hard work ethic that he carried throughout his life.
Clarence loved to cook. Frying fish, making gumbo, and having all the family over was one of his favorite things to do.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lillian Werhan; brothers, Dale Werhan, Wayne Werhan, Glenn Werhan, and Dazena Hughey.
Clarence was survived by his wife of 71 years, Marian Hammond Werhan; his children Cyndi (Charles) Walden of Gonzalez and Rick (Sherry) Werhan of Granbury, TX; brother, Clyde Werhan; beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and close friends that were like family.
Per his request there will be no Service.
Jesus tells you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24
Flomaton Woman Charged With Possessing Over A Pound Of Meth After Traffic Stop
December 22, 2025
A Flomaton woman faces multiple charges after an Atmore traffic stop reportedly led to the discovery of more than a pound of methamphetamine.
Roxanne Powell, 56, was stopped by an Atmore Police officer on North Main Street after the officer observed signs of distracted driving. Upon making contact, the officer confirmed Powell was on her cell phone.
According to Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann, the officer noted suspicious behavior and requested a K-9 unit. After the K-9 alerted on the vehicle, a search revealed over 500 grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, a digital scale, and various items used for ingesting and packaging narcotics.
Following her arrest, authorities say Powell was found to be in possession of an additional small amount of methamphetamine while being detained at the Atmore Police Department.
Powell was transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center and charged with drug trafficking, second-degree promoting prison contraband, possession of drug paraphernalia, and second-degree possession of marijuana.
Cantonment Man Involved In Fatal Head-on Baldwin County Wreck
December 22, 2025
A Cantonment man was involved in a fatal traffic crash on Sunday in Baldwin County.
Alabama State Troopers said 62-year-old Dana P. Weatherbee of Robertsdale was fatally injured when the 2011 Harley-Davidson Glide Ultra motorcycle he was operating collided head-on with the 2017 Ford F250 pickup driven by 67-year-old Richard B. Huelsbeck of Cantonment.
Troopers did not provide an update on Huelsbeck’s condition.
The crash occurred about 9:15 a.m. on Highway 90, about six miles east of the Robertsdale city limits.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
File photo.
West Highway 4 Closed Near Highway 97
December 22, 2025
A portion of West Highway 4 between Highway 97 and Pine Barren Church Road is closed to through traffic beginning through Wednesday while crews replace a pipe under the roadway.
Traffic is being detoured along Pine Barren Church Road.
Residents, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphic, click to enlarge.
