Cantonment Woman Charged With Felony Fraud For Using Stolen Checks
May 27, 2026
A Cantonment woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing a local man’s checkbook and using it to at the grocery store.
Christina Marie Avirett, 38, was charged with four felony counts of uttering a false bank bill, note, check, or draft. She was later released on a $4,000 bond.
According to an arrest report, a deputy was dispatched to the Grocery Advantage on Highway 29 in Cantonment regarding a fraud complaint. A store manager reported that a female frequent shopper had used unauthorized checks to purchase items on consecutive days. When the same woman returned the following evening and attempted to use another check under the same victim’s name, the manager recognized something was wrong and denied the transaction.
Investigators contacted the victim, who stated his checkbook had been taken from a kitchen drawer. The victim noted that he personally only uses that checkbook for church, and the first fraudulent check actually had “Church clean up” written on the memo line. This led him to believe the suspect knew him and his specific check habits. The victim was able to identify a former coworker linked to Avirett’s residential address, noting that the individual had been inside the victim’s house three weeks prior.
The store manager later selected Avirett from a photograph line-up provided by the Sheriff’s Office, identifying her as the individual who passed the checks. Surveillance footage from Grocery Advantage also captured the suspect and her distinct electric bicycle, which the responding deputy recognized from prior interactions.
In total, three checks were successfully processed—two at Grocery Advantage and one online—totaling $369.96 before the account was frozen.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Final Students, Employees Of The Month
May 27, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School named its Students and Employees of the Month for the final three months of the school year.
May Employee of the Month is science teacher Tracy Bozeman, and Students of the Month are Ryleigh Crabtree, eighth grade; Colton Hopper, seventh grade; and Charlie Trawick, sixth grade.
April Students of the Month are Henry Cook, sixth grade; Jaelyn Connors, seventh grade; Jadon Long, eighth grade; and Employee of the Month is Kevin Knowles, PE teacher and coach.
March Students and Employee of the Month are Marlee McElhaney, sixth grade; Rachael Garrison, seventh grade; Walker Maughon, eight grade; and Yolanda Fountain, teacher assistant.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Trying To Pass ‘Play Money’ At Credit Union
May 26, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested after he allegedly tried to exchange movie prop money for real cash and then use it to open an account at a local credit union
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a counterfeit call at the Gulf Winds Credit Union located at 220 East Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.
Justin Wayne Jordan, 40, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on felony charges of passing a counterfeit bank bill and possession of 10 or more counterfeit bills.
According to an arrest report, Jordan entered the credit union and handed a credit union employee two $100 bills in an attempt to exchange them for real currency. The employee immediately noticed that the bills were counterfeit, observing that they were explicitly marked with the imprint “Copy Play Money”. When the employee informed Jordan that the bills were fake and could not be exchanged, Jordan stated he had more cash with him. He then produced additional movie prop bills and stated that he wanted to use them to open up a credit union account.
A responding deputy reviewed credit union video footage of the encounter, which corroborated the employee’s account of the incident. In total, law enforcement collected 12 of the fake bills to be submitted into evidence.
Jordan remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Ernest Ward Middle School Presents Student Awards
May 26, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School presented student awards during last week of school programs.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional Inmate Assaulted Staff Member, FDC Says
May 26, 2026
A Century Correctional Institution inmate assaulted a correctional officer recently, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Yomi Williams, Jr., 30, assaulted an officer by spitting on them, according to the FDC.
Williams is serving an eight-year sentence on multiple convictions from Alachua County, including multiple counts of aggravated battery of a pregnant victim and burglary with assault.
MILO Mobile ID And Licensing Unit In Century Tomorrow
May 26, 2026
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Century tomorrow, May 27.
The mobile unit will be available from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse. The next visit to Century is planned for July 16.
The event was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed to tomorrow.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address or name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Habitual Traffic Offender Arrested After Fleeing Deputy, K-9 Search In Century
May 26, 2026
A Century man is facing felony charges after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement during an attempted traffic stop last month.
William Johnathan Hamilton, 35, was arrested last week on an outstanding warrant for fleeing and eluding law enforcement with active lights and sirens, and driving while license suspended as a habitual offender. He is currently being held at the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, a deputy was patrolling the area of Century Boulevard and West McCurdy Street when he observed a dark 2007 Chevy Silverado being driven by a man later identified as Hamilton. The deputy noted that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and the vehicle lacked a proper license tag.
When the deputy pulled behind the truck, Hamilton made a sharp right turn onto Hilltop Road and accelerated, according to the report. The deputy activated emergency lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, but Hamilton refused to pull over, eventually speeding onto a dirt road and into a field on his property
The deputy briefly lost sight of the vehicle but later located the abandoned truck hidden in a wooded area on the back lot of the residence on Hilltop Road. An ECSO drone unit and a Century Correctional Institution K-9 unit searched the surrounding area, but Hamilton was not found at the time. The truck was subsequently towed and impounded.
A records check revealed that Hamilton’s driver’s license had been suspended indefinitely since June 2024.
Tate Aggies Baseball Celebrates 2026 Season, Seniors At Blue Wahoos Game
May 26, 2026
The Tate High School Aggies baseball team celebrated their 2026 season and its senior players last week at a Pensacola Blue Wahoos game.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Road Constructions Locations To Watch
May 26, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projets n Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- State Road (S.R.) 99 (Beulah Road) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (S.R. 10A) to Isaacs Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Beulah Road, from Mobile Highway to Isaacs Road, Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for placement of thermoplastic striping.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between mile markers 11 and 14, Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and roadway construction.
- S.R. 296 (Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard) Resurfacing from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Baisden Road – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for placement of thermoplastic striping:
- Intermittent lane closures on Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard, from Davis Highway to Baisden Road.
- On-street parking closures on Bayou Boulevard, between 12th Avenue and Baisden Road.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, May 24, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292, from east of Bauer Road to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Additionally, a new traffic configuration has been implemented on S.R. 292 between Mills Avenue and just east of Patton Drive, with travel lanes shifted to the outside of the roadway to provide space to construct a median traffic separator. Channelizing devices are in place to delineate the work zone. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph through the work zone.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I- 110) ramp – The week of Sunday, May 24, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and N. Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street, from B Street to E Street, for ECUA sanitary sewer upgrades. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at E Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between B Street and L Street.
- I-110 Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers on I-110 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for paving operations and roadway construction.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent outside lane closures on I-10 westbound near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- Temporary reconfiguration of the I-10 westbound ramps, which will remain in place through mid-2026.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – The week of Sunday, May 24, drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Resurfacing from U.S. 29 to the Alabama State Line – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Northbound and southbound drivers will encounter a temporary traffic shift to one lane at S.R. 97 and S.R. 95.
- Intermittent lane and shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on Tuesday, May 26, through Friday, May 29, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for median improvements.
- Lane closures are to be expected at S.R. 95 and S.R. 97 on Tuesday, May 26, through Friday, May 29, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for median improvements.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Tuesday, May 26, through Saturday, May 30, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from Escambia River Bridge to east of Woodbine Road (C.R. 197A) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 90, from the Escambia River Bridge to Woodbine Road, Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for guardrail installation. Additionally, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Pictured: Construction on the I-10 at U.S. 29 interchange improvement project includes multiple operations near the CSX railway bridge, on the east end of the project limits. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Teen Sings National Anthem For First Responders Night At Wahoos Stadium
May 25, 2026
A Century teenager sang the National Anthem Saturday night at Wahoos Stadium for First Responders Night.
Simon Bush was chosen to sing the National Anthem before the Blue Wahoos game. He is the son of Escambia County Fire Rescue Lt. Tad Bush, who is stationed on Ladder 6 in Ensley.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
