Dump Truck Driver Seriously Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Crash
May 22, 2019
A dump truck driver was seriously injured when his truck overturned, shutting down Highway 97 in Molino Wednesday afternoon.
Kevin Davis, age 32 of Milton, was southbound on Highway 29 when he attempted to turn north on Highway 97 about 3:15 p.m. Davis was traveling too fast to safely make the turn, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His right tires ran off onto the west shoulder, then proceeded to lift off the ground. The truck continued in the turn on only the driver’s side tires on the ground before overturning across the the southbound lanes of Highway 97. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
After being extricated from the truck, Davis was transported by ambulance to the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and then airlifted to a Pensacola hospital.
No charges were immediately filed against Davis.
Highway 97 was closed for several hours as the wreckage and load of sand were cleaned up. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Files State And Federal Taxes Months Late, Amasses Thousands In Fees And Penalties
May 22, 2019
NorthEscambia.com has learned the Town of Century has been months late in filing and paying state and federal taxes, despite numerous notices and collection warnings, while amassing thousands of dollars in fees and penalties this fiscal year.
Internal Revenue Service Payroll Taxes
The town was assessed $2,346.61 for failure to file and pay their fourth quarter 2018 payroll taxes on time to the Internal Revenue Service.
Century is semi-weekly payroll tax depositor, meaning they are required to remit payroll taxes for each week’s payroll to the IRS by the following Wednesday. A Form 941 must be filed quarterly to report payroll taxes, and it should have a zero balance if the semi-weekly deposits are made, according to Council President Ann Brooks, who is an accountant by trade.
According to documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com, the town’s 2018 last quarter payroll report (Form 941) was due January 31, but was not received by the IRS until February 28 and showed a balance due of $14,060.26. There was also a late filing penalty of $639.08.
And documents also show The first quarter 2019 form showed a balance due of $30,470.40.
“There would be a zero balance due on the 941 form if we paid our payroll taxes when they were required to be paid. We will receive a notice from IRS assessing large penalties and interest for failure to timely pay our first quarter 2019 payroll taxes,” Brooks said.
So far in the second quarter of 2019, the payroll tax deposits due by April 24 and May 1 had not be made as of Monday, May 20.
Florida Department of Revenue Problems
Century’s tax problems don’t end with the IRS but also extend to the Florida Department of Revenue, which is threatening collection activities.
The town’s January, February, March and April gross receipts tax returns were not filed and paid until May 15. The returns and payments are due by the 20th of each month.
Century received a Florida Department of Revenue “Notice of Final Assessment” dated January 14 and another letter on May 14 stating the town had failed to respond to previous communications about the delinquent returns. Another letter received May 13 warned that the failure to file the delinquent tax forms and pay amounts due would result in collection activities.
Documents show that during this fiscal year, the Florida Department of Revenue also sent notices to the town in October and November of 2018 and two notices in February 2019 assessing late fees and interest for failing to file and pay taxes for August, September, November and December 2018.
Who Is Responsible?
Brooks said billing clerk Toni Simmons is responsible for providing information from the town’s billing software to Chief Deputy Clerk of Finance Kristina Wood who then prepares the state returns.
“Kristina stated that she has repeatedly requested from Toni the information necessary to file the sales tax and gross receipts tax returns and has informed Kim, the Mayor, and Robert that the requested information had not been provided,” Brooks said. The “Robert” she referenced is Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant, and “Kim” is Kim Godwin, town clerk.
Simmons provided the information needed to file Florida Department of Revenue forms for January through April on May 15. The penalty for a late return or payment is 10% for each month, up to 50% of of the original tax.
“The town council is not being informed about many problems, but the council is responsible for issues we are never made aware of. The council has previously voted that anytime a late fee or penalty is incurred it is to be brought to the council’s attention, but that is not happening,” Brooks said. “in the list of services that Robert Hudson agreed to provide to the town, among other things, he will review the monthly filings with the state of Florida before submission and preparation of the quarterly payroll tax returns and instruct personnel to properly compute and record the payroll tax deposit for each payroll.”
Pictured top: Robert Hudson, Century’s accountant, discusses taxes with the Century Town Council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Appeals Court Upholds Conviction Of Cantonment Man For Store Robbery
May 22, 2019
An appeals court has upheld a 15-year sentence for a Cantonment man for the 2016 robbery of a Cantonment convenience store.
On September 10, 2016, Jonathan Mark Vito entered the Tom Thumb on Highway 29 and Woodbury Court and displayed to the clerk what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money. He then fled the scene with the money, beer and cigarettes. He was later identified in the surveillance video by a previous co-worker and a relative.
Vito was charged with robbery with a firearm, but pleaded guilty to robbery without a weapon, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence. His lawyers requested 18-months, but Circuit Judge John Miller imposed a 15-year sentence in July 2017.
Vito attempted to withdraw his guilty plea after sentencing, saying he did not read well and really did not understand he could face such a lengthy sentence.
At a hearing, Vito swore that he read and signed the written plea agreement, understood all the rights he was giving up by entering the plea, was entering the plea freely and voluntarily, was not coerced, and was satisfied with his lawyer’s performance.
Post conviction, Vito contended that he entered the plea involuntarily and had understood that he would receive drug treatment, not prison time. His motion to withdraw his plea was denied.
On appeal, he asserted for the first time that the trial court failed to follow proper procedure regarding his plea. The Florida First District Court of Appeal found otherwise and upheld the original 15-year sentence.
Vito has prior convictions for trafficking in stolen property, pawnbroker transaction fraud, theft, fleeing and eluding, and several other misdemeanor charges.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Warm Today, Hot Holiday Weekend In Store
May 22, 2019
Today will be a warm one, but it’s only going to get hotter headed into the holiday weekend. Air temperatures for the weekend will climb into the mid and upper 90s, will heat indexes will head over 100 degrees.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Areas of fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
Memorial Day: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 95.
On The Radio: Jim Allen Fourth Graders Present Play
May 22, 2019
Fourth grade students at Jim Allen Elementary School presented the play “On The Radio” Tuesday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kingsfield Road Man Caught In Alabama With 48 Pounds Of Marijuana Worth $170K
May 22, 2019
An Escambia County man was caught in Alabama with 48 pounds of high grade marijuana worth $170,000, according to authorities.
Tony Phan, 47, is charged with marijuana trafficking and remained in the Baldwin County Jail without bond.
Phan was pulled over on I-10 due to a traffic violation. A K-9 alerted on the vehicle for the presence of illegal narcotics, and deputies found the 48 pounds of marijuana in the back seat of the vehicle.
The Baldwin Sheriff’s Office said the marijuana originated in the state of Washington and was being transported to the Pensacola area.
Phan is a resident of the 3000 block of Kingsfield Road, according to jail records.
Northview’s Aubree Love Inks To Play Softball With Coastal Alabama
May 22, 2019
Northview High School’s Aubree Love committed Tuesday to play softball at Coastal Alabama Community College. Love, who graduated on Saturday, will be attending Coastal on an academic scholarship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Boat Ramp Road In Century Closed Thursday
May 22, 2019
Boat Ramp Road in Century will be closed on Thursday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., according to a notice from the town. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Nine Mile Road To Be Closed At Highway 29 Wednesday Night
May 22, 2019
Nine Mile Road will be closed at the Highway 29 overpass in Escambia County from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23, as crews continue removal of the old southbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road will also be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, and Thursday, May 30, as crews complete the bridge deck removal. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to Highway southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road. Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
Additionally, Highway 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Cantonment Woman Pronounced Deceased After Colliding With Utility Pole
May 21, 2019
A Cantonment woman was pronounced deceased after hitting a pole on West Nine Mile Road Tuesday afternoon.
Barbara Brown, 69, was traveling west on Nine Mile near Eight Mile Creek Road about 12:50 p.m. when her Dodge pickup traveled off the roadway and collided with a utility pole, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Brown was transported to West Florida Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.