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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2001)
The INDEPENDENT, March 21, 2001 Better Page 5 usiness Bureau offers tax tips for usual procrastinators If you are going to fill out Better Business Bureau: your own return, utilize free Gather all relevant informa tion such as receipts, financial help. The 1RS conducts “tax records, W-2 forms and copies clinics” in most major cities, of the past year’s tax return. and you can call a toll free Make sure you have all the helpline at 1-800-829-1040. documentation you need for For more information, contact the AARP at 1-888-227-7669. the deductions you claim. Educate yourself about the latest tax information. You may not be aware of changes in tax The Watershed Stewardship gram (CCA) and Associated law that could represent a tax savings. Education Program (WSEP) is Oregon Loggers (AOL). If you decide to have some a new training opportunity from Trainings are scheduled one prepare your taxes for you, Oregon State University Exten April 11, 19, 21, May 9, 17, 19, sion Service. A series of eight June 6, 13, 16, July 11, 19, 21, there are a variety of options. classroom sessions and four from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. week To determine the tax preparer field trips provide practical wa days and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 who may be best for you, take tershed education for water p.m. Saturdays. Evening in a look at the complexity of your shed council members, farm door sessions are at the Co return and whether you have ers, woodland owners, teach lumbia Tech Center and Satur had major events in the last ers, urban residents, local gov day field sessions depart from year, such as retirement, death ernment staff, etc. Combining the Columbia County OSU Ex expertise from OSU and com tension Service office in St. He munity members, WSEP tailors $35.5 million in loan guaran lens. training to fit the educational Cost of the Master Program tees is available to rural home- needs of each area. is $52.00 for eight classes and buyers in Oregon. The guaran WSEP includes a Master four field trips, refreshments, teed rural housing program al Watershed Steward option, lunch and transportation for lows buyers to purchase a which requires participation in field days, handouts and a home in rural Oregon with no the entire series of classroom WSEP Learning Guide. Individ down payment and 100 per and field sessions and requires ual modules (two classroom cent financing. Participating a project. Projects can be on sessions and corresponding lenders extend the loan to eligi your own property or in your ble homebuyers and USDA community and can vary in field trip) can be taken for $15 guarantees the loan, eliminat type. Training can also be tak (not including Learning Guide). For more information, con ing potential risk to lenders for en on an individual basis, sep providing 100 percent financ arate from the Master program. tact Columbia County Exten ing. There is no monthly SWEP is accredited with the sion office at 503-397-3462 or mortgage insurance associat Certified Crop Advisors Pro- http://seagrant.orst.edu/wsep ed with the loan and closing Completing a tax form can be an assignment that even the most responsible individual would want to delay. If you are among the thousands of Amer icans yet to send off your tax form, here are a few tips and recommendations from the Watershed steward course slated of a spouse, marriage, divorce, inheritance or a change in the number of your dependents. If your return is complex, you may want to engage the services of Certified Public Ac countant (CPA), a Tax Attorney, or an Enrolled Agent. Enrolled Agents are approved to repre sent taxpayers before the IRS and can assist people with es pecially complex tax cases and multiple forms. If you do not have a com plex return, you may want to choose a local or nationally franchised tax preparation service. When selecting a serv ice, be wary of any service that “guarantees” a refund. Some services offer a quick payment on your anticipated refund, but remember...this is a loan...so read carefully and understand the terms before signing. Make sure that you are able to contact the service year around in the event of an audit, or if your taxes need to be amend ed. When selecting a tax prepa ration service, check their relia bility report with the Better Business Bureau. You can re quest a copy of the BBB’s free brochure “Tips on Tax Prepar ers” by BBB on the consumer hotline in Oregon at 503-226- 3981, and in Western Wash ington at 206-431-2222, or on the web at <www.thebbb.org.> You can access the IRS on line at <www.irs.gov>. Federal mortgage funds available for rural housing L eo n etti s Pizza & Grill SPECIAL!! Buy 1 Lg. Pepperoni Pizza Get 2nd for 1/2 Price! W E DELIVER • PARTY PLATTERS AVAILABLE costs and pre-paid reserves of ing obligations. The adjusted ten can be included in the loan family income for a family of four ranges from $57,750 to request. $61,900, depending on the The homes must be located county of residence. in an eligible rural area. Com USDA Rural Development, munities with less than 20,000 together with its partners, pro people that are not located in a vides assistance to hundreds metropolitan statistical area are of rural residents. In addition, generally considered eligible under agreement with Oregon rural areas. Housing and Community Services (OHCS), lenders that To be eligible for the pro gram, homebuyers must meet participate in the USDA pro income guidelines, show the gram and who also participate ability to repay the loan and in the OHCS bond program demonstrate a history of meet- can process guaranteed home loans using a combination of the two programs. OHCS lowered its single-family loan interest rate to 5.95 percent in January. More than 50 banks and mortgage lenders in Oregon participate in the USDA guar anteed program. Additional in formation can be obtained by calling a participating local lender or an USDA Rural De velopment office in Portland at 503-414-3335. Please don't drink and drive. Neither ja ils nor hospitals are enjoyable. 721 Madison Ave., Vernonia • 503-429-5018 march S M T W T f 4 5 6 11 12 13 IS 19 20 25 26 27 VERNONIA 6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg. Mondays Al-Anon 6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg. Mondays Alcoholics Anonymous 7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg. Saturdays Alcoholics Anonymous 2:00 p.m., City Library 2nd Thursday Arts & Crafts Society 7:30 p.m., VHS Library 2nd Wednesday Boosters 7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg. Tuesdays Boy Scout Troop 201 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Wednesdays Boy Scout Troop 860 7:00 p.m., City Library Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday Noon, Lew’s Place 2nd Wednesday Chamber of Commerce 1:00 p.m., Senior Center 4th Tuesday Doll Club 6:30-8 p.m., Christian Church Thursdays Girl Scouts For location call 429-7193 3rd Thursday Izaak Walton League 6:30 p.m., Lew's Place 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Lions Club 6:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg. Wednesdays Narcotics Anonymous For Info Call 429-4074 Nehalem Valley Car Club 10:30 a.m., City Library Mondays Preschool Story Hour For location call 429-2401 Upr Nehalem Watershed Council 4th Thursday 7:00 p.m., City Library Vernonia Airport Committee 3rd Wednesday For location call 429-1414 Vernonia Cares Directors 1st Thursday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays Noon, City Hall Vernonia Comm. Dev. Corp. 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall 2nd Friday Vernonia Grange 6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St. 2nd Thursday Vernonia Health Center 7:00 p.m., City Hall 1st Thursday Vernonia Planning Comm. For Info Call, 429-5201 Vernonia Pride 7:00 p.m., City Library Last Thursday Vernonia Ridge Riders 7:00 p.m., Fire Station 2nd Tuesday Vernonia RFPD Board 8:00 p.m., District Office 2nd Thursday Vernonia School Board 1:00 p.m., Senior Center 1st Friday Vernonia Sr. Center Board 7:00 p.m., Fire Station 2nd Monday Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 7:00 p.m., WOEC 3rd Tuesday WOEC Directors 7 14 21 28 1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board M-B Ambulance Assoc. M-B Firefighters Assoc. M-B Rescue M-B Helping Circle Natal Grange T.O.P.S. J 3 10 17 24 31 APftlL S M T W T f 1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 s 7 14 21 28 5 U 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 2nd & 4th Tuesday 1st & 2nd Thurs. 1st & 2nd Wed. 3rd Wednesday 2nd Wednesday 2nd Wednesday Sundays MAY T 1 8 15 22 29 W 2 9 16 23 30 T 3 10 17 24 31 F 4 11 18 25 9 5 12 19 26 JUNE 9 IA T W T 3 10 17 24 4 11 18 25 5 12 19 26 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 F 1 8 15 22 29 9 2 9 16 23 30 7:30 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 10:00 am, 755-2346 for info. 7:30 p.m., Grange Hall 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station BANKS 8:00 p.m., Methodist Church Fridays Alcoholics Anonymous 7:30 p.m., City Hall 2nd Tuesday Banks City Council 7:00 p.m., City Hall Banks Planning Commission Last Tuesday 2nd Monday 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library Banks School Board Sundays, Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. Banks Youth Group 1st Thursday 12:30 p.m., Brown Derby Chamber of Commerce 3rd Monday, odd months 7:15 p.m., City Hall Citizen Participation Org 1st Saturday 10:00 a.m., City Library Friends of the Library 1 st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., Methodist Church Lions Club 3rd Wednesday 8:00 p.m., Gun Club Sunset Park Assoc. Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. T.O.P.S. 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Station 13 Tri-City RFPD Board COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) 10 a.m., Courthouse Wednesdays Board of Commissioners 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church 2nd Tuesday Citizens for Senior Justice 10:30 a.m., Courthouse 2nd Friday COLCO Transportation 1:00 p.m., Courthouse 2nd Friday County Council of Seniors 7:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. 2nd Monday County Fair Board 6:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St. 3rd Mon day County Parks Commission 7:00 p.m., Courthouse Emergency Comm. Dist. (9-1-1) 3rd Tuesday Noon, location call 429-3713 Historical Society 4th Wednesday Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410
