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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2004)
The INDEPENDENT, January 15, 2004 Mr. Reliable takes a rest… After nearly 30 years of delivering mail to the residents and businesses of Vernonia, Dick Aldrich has taken a well-earned retirement. During a brief ceremony on his last working day, retired Vernonia Postmaster Dan Fletch- er, a long-time co-worker, presented Aldrich with a plaque for his years of reliable service. He will be missed not only by his human clients, but by every dog in town because they all knew there were treats in those pockets. Update on Lewis & Clark Bridge The full weekend closure of the Lewis and Clark Bridge originally scheduled for Janu- ary 16 – 19 has been resched- uled for January 30-February 2. Rescheduling is required be- cause last week’s winter storm made it impossible to complete necessary preparation work. The rescheduled closure will begin at 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan- uary 30, and remain until the bridge reopens to traffic at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, February 2. Please note that I-5 in both directions between NE 134th Street and NE 99th Street in Clark County will also be closed to all traffic during this same weekend as part of an in- terstate widening project in that area. The Washington Depart- ment of Transportation offers three suggestions for motorists wishing to cross the Columbia River: • The Puget Island/Cath- lamet ferry, which will operate 24-hours-a-day without charge during the bridge closure hours. • The U.S. 101/Astoria- Megler Bridge Contact numbers for Lewis & Clark Bridge – Toll Free Lewis & Clark Bridge Deck Replacement Project Hot- line: 1-866-427-4630 – Project Web Page: (Follow the Project Update link to the monthly calendar) www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/lewi sclarkbridge – Lewis & Clark Bridge Deck Re- placement Project E-mail: lewis clarkbridge@wsdot.wa.gov – Highway Advisory Radios: • Kelso, WA AM 1580 • Rainier, OR AM 530 Page 5 Remember to check family tax credits Oregonians missed out on nearly $30 million in federal tax credits last year because they didn’t claim them, according to the Oregon Child Care Re- source & Referral Network, a statewide association of 17 programs helping families find child care. This year, significant in- creases in federal and state tax credits can put thousands of dollars in the pockets of Orego- nians. That’s why the Oregon Child Care Resource & Refer- ral Network is working in part- nership with the National Women’s Law Center to urge working parents to file for these credits to lower their taxes or increase their refunds. As a result of the federal in- creases, families may be eligi- ble for: – The federal Child and De- pendent Care Credit, designed to offset some of the child or dependent care costs that fam- ilies incur in order to work. The maximum value of the credit is $2,100. – The federal Child Tax Credit has increased from $600 to $1,000 per child. – The federal Earned In- come Tax Credit, which helps provide a wage supplement for low-income families (those earning less than $34,692 an- nually), has increased slightly, from $4,140 to $4,204. Oregon child care credits have also increased: – The state Child and De- pendent Care Credit increased from a maximum of $1,440 to a maximum of $1,800. – For the first time the state Working Family Child Care Credit, which is worth up to 40 percent of qualifying child care expenses, is refundable, giving more tax assistance to low-in- come filers. – The state Earned Income Credit may be as much as $210. In an attempt to reach thou- sands of Oregon families with information about tax credits, the Network is also working with the Association of Oregon Broadcasters and its member television and radio stations to air public service announce- ments during February and March 2004. The tax credit campaign will also distribute user-friendly materials in Eng- lish and Spanish to local child care providers, day care cen- ters and other area organiza- tions. In addition, free tax help is available on the Network’s web site <www.OregonChildCare. org> or by calling toll-free 1- 800-342-6712.
