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
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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
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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
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2
9
16
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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.
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2nd & 4th Tuesday
1st & 2nd Thurs.
1st & 2nd Wed.
3rd Wednesday
2nd Wednesday
2nd Wednesday
Sundays
MAY
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8
15
22
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2
9
16
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JUNE
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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