Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2006)
Page 13 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, January 18, 2006 JoCo tobacco vendors not selling to underaged A STEP AEROBICS pro- gram developed and im- plemented by Illinois Val- ley High School students in the third-period expe- ditionary learning class taught by Cheryl Shep- herd is a big hit at Lorna Byrne Middle School. The IVHS students have been working with 35 LBMS pupils in the pro- gram, which also has involved classroom in- struction, weight train- ing, and Tae-Bo. The IVHS students, besides developing the program, are learning problem solving, working with younger persons, and a variety of other related aspects. During 14 undercover tests in Josephine County during 2004 to check to- bacco sales to underage per- sons, no clerks were cited, said Oregon Dept. of Hu- man Services (ODHS). Josephine County had the most of the federally required inspections. The county was among 15 of the state’s 36 counties where clerks did not sell tobacco to underage persons. Throughout Oregon, the 2005 sales rate of 17.8 per- cent surpassed the ‘04 rate of 14.6 percent. January of this year marks the begin- ning of the 12th year of the inspections. They will involve ap- proximately 400 of the state’s 2,800 tobacco retail- ers, where a person younger than 18, accompanied by a retired Oregon State Police officer, will try to buy to- bacco. Clerks who sell to a minor are subject to a fine of $100 to $600 under a Class D violation of endangering a minor. Last year, the least number of sales were re- corded in 81 visits to mini- marts, where clerks sold to minors 6.2 percent of the time. The highest sales rate was 40 percent in five at- tempts to purchase at to- bacco shops, and in 10 at- tempts at stores in an “other” category comprising RV parks, bowling alleys and marinas. “We want store owners and clerks to put themselves into the shoes of parents -- including those who smoke -- who don’t want their kids to start smoking,” said Rey Agullana, prevention spe- cialist in ODHS. He added, “We know that people who haven’t started smoking by the time they’re 18 probably never will.” (Photos by ‘Illinois Valley News’) God bless America! MARK THESE TAX DEADLINES IN RED Circle these dates on your 2006 calendar if any of the following upcoming tax deadlines apply to you or your business. • January 17-Due date for the fourth and final installment of 2005 estimated tax (unless you file your 2005 return and pay any balance due by January 31). • January 31-Employers must furnish 2005 W-2 statements to employees. 1099 information statements must be furnished to payees by banks, brokers, and other payors. • January 31-Employers must generally file 2005 federal unemployment tax returns and pay any tax due. • February 28 -Payors must file information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS. (March 31 is the deadline if filing electronically.) State emergency medicine grade C- With a C-, Oregon’s state of emergency medicine was diagnosed in “serious” condition, according to a new, first-time report card released by the American College of Emergency Phy- sicians (ACEP). The Oregon College of Emergency Physicians (OCEP) commended state policymakers for recent ef- forts to improve advanced life-support ambulance ser- vices, which if addressed, “will improve the state’s low ranking for this measure (49th).” The group also called on state policymakers to increase the need for more hospital-staffed beds, and nurses. These findings are based on the ACEP National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine, the first comprehensive analysis of how much support states provide their emergency medical-care systems. ACEP said that it began this intensive effort more than a year ago by appointing ex- perts to a task force. It developed 50 objec- tive and quantifiable criteria to measure the performance of each state and the District of Columbia. Grades were then assigned based on a comparison to the best state’s performance using weighted and aggregated measurements. All 50 states and the District of Columbia re- ceived an overall grade, on a scale of A-F, plus separate weighted grades in four categories: Access to Emer- gency Care (40 percent), Quality of Care and Patient Safety (25 percent), Public Health and Injury Preven- tion (10 percent), and Medi- cal Liability Environment (25 percent). Oregon earned a C+ in the Access to Emergency Care category, ranking fourth in the nation for its number of board-certified emergency physicians and eighth for its good supply of trauma centers. However, other rank- ings in this category lowered its grade, including 49th in the nation for its lack of hos- pital-staffed beds, 40th for its shortage of registered nurses, and last place (51st) for its low percentage of pre-hospital personnel with access to online medical services. “Oregon emergency physicians provide high- quality services despite overcrowded conditions, physician and nursing short- ages, and efforts by the Ore- gon Legislature and Dept. of Human Services to alter those services,” said Dr. Jim Jensen, OCEP president. “Emergency physicians in our state continue to lead the fight against alcohol and drug-related traffic incidents,” he said, “and advocate for continued use of helmets and other safety equipment for motorcycles, bicycles and all- terrain vehicles.” Oregon earned its best category grade for Public Health and Injury Preven- tion (B+), ranking eighth in the nation and scoring well for its safety measures, such as primary seat belt and mo- torcycle helmet laws. It also ranked best-in-the-nation for (Continued on page 14) • February 28 -Employers must send W-2 copies to the Social Security Administration. (March 31 is the deadline if filing electronically.) • March 1-Farmers and fishermen who did not make 2005 estimated tax payments must file 2005 tax returns and pay taxes in full. • March 15-2005 calendar-year corporation income tax returns are due. • April 17-Individual income tax returns for 2005 are due unless you file for an automatic extension. Taxes owed are due regardless of extension. • April 17-2005 partnership returns are due. • April 17-2005 annual gift tax returns are due. • April 17-Deadline for making your 2005 IRA and education savings account contribu- tions. • April 17-First installment of 2006 individual estimated tax is due. • June 15-Second installment of 2006 individual estimated tax is due. • September 15-Third installment of 2006 individual estimated tax is due. • October 16-Deadline for filing your 2005 individual tax return if you filed for an extension of the April 17 deadline. Karen M. Bodeving, CPA PC We’ve Moved to 564 N.E. E St. Grants Pass OR 97526 Phone: 479-3625 Grants Pass Office hours: 9 to 3 Mon. - Fri. Other hours by appointment
