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.
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.
ECUA Reports 5,500 Gallon Sewage Spill On Pine Forest Road In Cantonment
December 22, 2025
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UPDATE: On Monday, ECUA updated the total volume of the spill to 5,500 gallons, with 5,300 gallons recovered with vacuum trucks.
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) reported a sanitary sewer overflow on Sunday on Pine Forest Road in Cantonment.
The 1,000 gallon spill was due to a broken force main in the 2800 block of Pine Forest Road, just south of West Roberts Road, according to a report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The spill occurred between 2-8 p.m. on Sunday.
After crews recovered the remains of the spill, they cleaned and sprayed the area with biocide, according to ECUA.
Ransom Middle Students Enjoy PBIS Holiday Celebration
December 22, 2025
Ransom Middle School celebrated student achievement lst week with a PBIS Holiday event designed to reward positive behavior.
Students donned festive reindeer antlers and holiday lights while gathering to decorate wooden ornaments and stars.
Along with the crafts, students enjoyed a cookies and refreshments.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Letters To Santa From Bratt Elementary Second Graders
December 22, 2025
NorthEscambia.com asked second grade students at Bratt Elementary School to write letters to Santa. The letters have already been forwarded to Santa to make sure he knows all their special wishes.
Students in the classes of Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Estes, and Mrs. Ward wrote letters to Santa.
For all of the letters, click here.
Jim Allen Elementary Students Celebrate ‘Grinch Day’
December 22, 2025
Jim Allen Elementary School held a “Grinch Day’ before Christmas Break. Students wore green or dressed like their favorite Grinch characters.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
