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Sandwich Generation Feeling the Squeeze of Supporting Elderly Parents, Boomerang Kids
More than 40 percent of baby boomers who have a living parent are helping with their care.* Whether health or financial problems, or literally “giving back,” millions of adults are assisting their parents with monetary support. Many also are raising children or supporting their Generation Y children, making them part of the sandwich generation. Read the rest of this entry »
Five Important Tax Credits
You might be eligible for a valuable tax credit. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of taxes owed. Some credits are even refundable, which means you might receive a refund rather than owe any taxes at all. Here are five popular tax credits you should consider before filing your 2009 Federal Income Tax Return:
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable credit for certain people who work and have earned income from wages, self-employment or farming. Income, age and the number of qualifying children determine the amount of the credit. EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe and may also give you a refund. For more information see IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Credit. Read the rest of this entry »
Drew County Sheriff’s Department has been notified from several from citizens saying that they have been contacted over the phone by persons soliciting money for the local sheriff’s department. The phone numbers comes from an “unknown” number. The caller says that they will pick up the money immediately.
Sheriff Mark Gober says “These individuals are fraudulently soliciting money. At no time will any representative from the Drew County Sheriff’s Department be contacting citizens to solicit money.”
Any citizen receiving such phone calls should contact the local sheriff’s department.
LifeShare Blood Centers will hold a blood drive on the parking lot of Monticello Walmart on Saturday, March 6th from 10am until 2pm. Please come out and help support your local hospital by donating “the Gift of Life”.
Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110lbs and be in good health. Donors will be required to present identification at the time of donation.
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SeaArk Marine, Inc. recently completed the first two boats of a five boat contract for the Haiti Coast Guard. The vessels were purchased through the Global Peace and Security Fund, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), through the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). Read the rest of this entry »
Damages from severe storms and flooding left their mark on 24 Arkansas counties hit during the period Dec. 23, 2009 to Jan. 2, 2010 making them eligible to receive federal funding for repairs. The storms and flooding left damages to bridges, highways, public buildings, parks, hospitals and water treatment plants – not to mention a trail of debris and potentially disrupted communications and emergency services. Read the rest of this entry »
U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry , Vic Snyder and Mike Ross yesterday announced that Arkansas will receive $584,747 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for public health efforts to help reduce obesity, encourage exercise and improve nutrition. In addition, Arkansas will receive $664,204 to help people avoid or stop smoking. The Recovery Act funds under HHS’s Prevention and Wellness Initiative will go toward media campaigns, tobacco quitlines for counseling to help quit smoking, safe places to exercise in communities, and healthy food choices in schools. Read the rest of this entry »
As you get ready to prepare your 2009 tax return, the Internal Revenue Service wants to make sure you have all the details about tax law changes that may impact your tax return.
Here are the top five changes that may show up on your 2009 return.
1. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
ARRA provides several tax provisions that affect tax year 2009 individual tax returns due April 15, 2010. The recovery law provides tax incentives for first-time homebuyers, people who purchased new cars, those that made their homes more energy efficient, parents and students paying for college, and people who received unemployment compensation.
2. IRA Deduction Expanded
You may be able to take an IRA deduction if you were covered by a retirement plan and your 2009 modified adjusted gross income is less than $65,000 or $109,000 if you are married filing a joint return.
3. Standard Deduction Increased for Most Taxpayers
The 2009 basic standard deductions all increased. They are:
$11,400 for married couples filing a joint return and qualifying widows and widowers
$5,700 for singles and married individuals filing separate returns
$8,350 for heads of household Read the rest of this entry »
The Arkansas State Highway Commission has announced the release of the Draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for Federal Fiscal Years 2010-2013.
The projects listed are for the State’s overall highway and transit programs and encompass all areas of the state. The program is consistent with the State’s long range plan and includes roadway, bridge, traffic signal, intersection improvement and transit projects. Read the rest of this entry »
Congress Should Help Seniors Make Ends Meet
Almost 75 years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed into law our nation’s Social Security system to provide retirement protection for all Americans. Read the rest of this entry »
2 million Americans expected to take advantage of extended, expanded homebuyer credit.
Information provided by H&R Block, 420 W Gaines, Monticello.
More American homebuyers will get tax relief thanks to changes made to the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. H&R Block advises the popular credit is now more accessible to existing homeowners and first-time homebuyers in three ways:
Through a tax credit worth up to $6,500 for existing homeowners in the market for a new home.
Through a new closing deadline of April 30, 2010 – extended from Nov. 30, 2009 – for the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Credit. Also, a special provision gives taxpayers two extra months to close if they’ve entered into a contract by April 30, 2010.
By increased phase-out limits that start at $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married filing jointly – up from $75,000 and $125,000 respectively. The new limits apply to homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009.
Under the new requirements, an estimated 2 million Americans are expected to claim the tax benefit.* The IRS estimates 1.4million people have already claimed earlier versions of the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. Read the rest of this entry »
H&R Block’s new service can cut wait time for W-2 by three weeks
An estimated 90 million taxpayers can access their W-2s up to three weeks early – rather than waiting until the end of January – enabling them to file their tax returns and potentially get their refunds more quickly, thanks to a new service from H&R Block.
“Taxpayers want their refunds as soon as possible, especially in a tight economy. This service will help taxpayers get a head start on doing their taxes and being prepared to e-file on Jan. 15,” said Mark Ciaramitaro, vice president of marketing at H&R Block. “Taxpayers can cut the wait for their W-2s by three weeks, which means if they’re owed a refund, they’ll get it sooner.”
The W-2 Early Access online service enables many taxpayers to securely send electronic copies of their W-2s directly to H&R Block tax offices at no extra cost rather than waiting for the hard copy to be mailed to their home. Feb. 1, 2010, is the date employers must have mailed W-2s to employees. Read the rest of this entry »
Emphasizing Literacy: Local KidzLit Program to Receive $5,000 Grant
Monticello educators, mentors, volunteers, and parents are putting an extra emphasis on literacy skills to help America’s youth beat the odds and graduate. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is no different. With generous support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, BGCA has teamed up with Developmental Studies Center to implement AfterSchool Kidzlit, a proven reading enrichment program for young people in grades K-8th.
Boys & Girls Club of Monticello is one of 18 organizations across the country selected to benefit from essential after-school educational assistance that emphasizes literacy. Each Club is receiving a $5,000 program implementation grant and an AfterSchool KidzLit kit, including grade-and age appropriate books and leader’s guides. In August, Boys & Girls Club of Monticello, Kimberly Steen AmeriCorp member joined representatives from selected sites in Atlanta for intensive training led by Lissette Resto-Brooks, an instructor for Developmental Studies Center. Read the rest of this entry »
Each year since 2002, FRED’S Hometown Discount Stores have commemorated the fallen heroes of 9/11 through a fundraiser for the emergency teams that serve their store locations. The campaign was successful again this year, and FRED’S is donating a total chain wide of over $314,803 to local emergency teams across their regions. FRED’S stores sold “Hero Hats” for $1 each with all proceeds going to selected emergency teams around Store locations. In addition, all-operating profits from store sales on September 11 were also donated.
Monticello’s Fred’s Store donated $800 to the Monticello Police Dept, which will be used to support the patrol division, which provides protection for Monticello’s citizens and businesses.
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
If you’re like many people, you’re watching your dollars extra carefully this year as you do your holiday shopping. And that’s a good thing, because even in the best of times, it’s never wise to go overboard on gifts. But by making the right moves during this holiday season, you can also help ensure that you stay on track toward your long-term financial goals.
Specifically, what steps should you be taking during these weeks? Here are a few suggestions:
2 million Americans expected to take advantage of extended, expanded homebuyer credit
More American homebuyers will get tax relief thanks to changes made to the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. H&R Block advises the popular credit is now more accessible to existing homeowners and first-time homebuyers in three ways: Read the rest of this entry »
2 million Americans expected to take advantage of extended, expanded homebuyer credit.
More American homebuyers will get tax relief thanks to changes made to the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. H&R Block advises the popular credit is now more accessible to existing homeowners and first-time homebuyers in three ways:
Through a tax credit worth up to $6,500 for existing homeowners in the market for a new home. Read the rest of this entry »
SeaArk Boats, a manufacturer of all-welded aluminum boats located in Monticello, has recently announced that Wendy Tassin, also of Monticello, has been named the company’s new marketing coordinator. Read the rest of this entry »
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
As you’re no doubt aware, the long and deep recession has resulted in the highest unemployment rate in decades. But if you’ve been laid off, or if you fear a layoff may soon be coming, you’re less interested in statistics than in your immediate financial future. How will you get by until you land a new job?
Apply now for the WIA Grant for the Spring 2010 semester. Qualified applicants can receive up to $10,000 for college or qualified training.
Come by the Arkansas Workforce Center located at 477 South Main Street in Monticello to apply.
Deadline to apply is Friday, November 13, 2009.
For more information, call 870-367-9900.
Governor Mike Beebe will be the Keynote Speaker at the Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition, Inc.’s inaugural Annual Meeting and Banquet on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
The Annual Meeting and Banquet will be held in the Capitol Room in the Gibson University Center on the University of Arkansas at Monticello Campus.
The event will begin at 6:30 pm and tickets are $15.00 per person. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Executive Director, Mary Seymore at (870) 460-1224. Seating capacity is limited to 200.
SeaArk Marine, Inc. recently delivered the Captain Kenneth H. Scarbrough, a 50-foot Dauntless Class Patrol vessel, to the Port of New Orleans.
The vessel will be operated by the Harbor Police and used for a variety of port security, maritime response, and emergency rescue missions throughout the Port of New Orleans waterway systems. Additionally, the vessel will support the U.S. Coast Guard in its various marine safety/security missions along the Lower Mississippi River.
The SeaArk 50-foot Dauntless is based on a proven hull designed by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, of New Bedford, MA, and is constructed of all-welded marine grade aluminum. The state-of-the-art vessel is designed as a Command and Control vessel. Read the rest of this entry »
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
Like everyone else, you want to leave a legacy. To make it happen, though, you need to do some estate planning. For most of us, that sounds like a scary task, but it doesn’t have to be — as long as you break it down into a few key moves.
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) plans to open all four lanes of the new Highway 65 Bypass at Grady next week, according to AHTD officials.
Traffic will begin using all four lanes on Wednesday, October 21st at approximately 10:00 a.m. Existing two-way traffic on the northbound lanes of the new bypass will be split, with northbound traffic remaining the same and southbound traffic moving to the currently unused southbound lanes.
Additional work by the contractor will be ongoing for a few more weeks. The speed limit will remain at 55 mph while the work is being completed. Once completed, the speed limit will be increased to 65 mph. Motorists are reminded that the remaining work will require intermittent lane closures.
The SeaArk Companies (formerly MonArk Boat Company) Mark 50 Years of Boat Building with an open house at SeaArk, today, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Zach McClendon, Jr. of Monticello, Arkansas will celebrate being in the boat building business for 50 consecutive years this September. McClendon, along with his father, Zach McClendon, Sr. and another local businessman, Norris Judkins started MonArk Boat Company in May of 1958 building small aluminum jon boats using a shear and break press provided by Judkins. The company incorporated the next year, in August of 1959.
MonArk Boat Company eventually grew to include a large recreational division that included both aluminum and fiberglass boats and manufactured a wide range of products including Ski Boats, Pontoons, Houseboats, Sail Boats, Canoes, and Bass Boats in addition to the basic jon boat that is still built today. At the height of the recreation business the company was building approximately 15,000 boats per year and had over 300 dealers throughout the United States. Read the rest of this entry »
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
Labor Day is upon us. We honor the contributions of working men and women — in other words, people just like you. Of course, it doesn’t have to be Labor Day for you to be aware that you work hard for your money — and you’d like to know that your money is working just as hard for you.
How can you keep your money employed? Consider these suggestions:
 The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) will hold a Design Public Hearing in Monticello to discuss proposed plans for a bypass of Monticello on Highway 278, according to AHTD officials.Â
Plans call for a bypass around the south side of town. The meeting is being held to discuss the phase of the project that would extend from Highway 278, east of town, southward to Highway 425.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 8th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sadie Johnson Community Center, 182 N. Larkin Drive, in Monticello.
The public is invited to visit anytime during the scheduled hours to view displays, ask questions and offer comments.For more information, contact the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department’s Environmental Division at 501-569-2281.
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
While stock prices were going through their dizzying descent, some people gave up on investing and decided that, from now on, they would put all their money in savings accounts, piggy banks, under their pillows – anywhere but in the market. Another group took a “wait-and-see” approach and told themselves they’d start investing again when they were sure that things had turned around. But a third group quietly decided to “stay the course” and continued investing.In fact, from March until early August, the stock market, as measured by the S & P 500, rose about 45 percent.
Read the rest of this entry »
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
If nothing ever changed in your life, you could probably chart your financial and investment strategies and then forget about them. But your life is full of changes – and many of them will require you to take a new look at how you save, invest and protect your family.Let’s run through some of the most common milestones in life and see what sort of moves you might make in response:
Read the rest of this entry »
Monticello merchants plan a $15 On The 15th back to school sales event for August.
Come to Monticello and take advantage of outstanding savings during this one day only sales event at these and other fine merchants:Â
On Monticello’s downtown square Discount Merchandise…. The Tree O…Keepsakes…Cockrell’s Shoes….Factory Connection
In North Park Shopping Center on Highway 425 North Giggles & Grins….Stage….Cato’s….
Highway 425 North Town & Country Florist & Gifts…….The Gift Shaker
Also, The Allen House, recently voted “Most Haunted House In America”, is offering tours 2 for $15. Call (870)224-2271 for reservations.
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
Is there a “generation gap” today? In some ways, it’s possible. While many baby boomers are happy just to understand the basics of Facebook, “Millennials” are busy texting and twittering. And yet when it comes to investing, baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1962), Generation X (1963 – 1981) and Millennials (1982 – 2001) may have a lot in common.Specifically, to achieve their long-term goals, these groups should structure their investment portfolios to provide some growth potential. However, due to their age differences, they may need to take different approaches in how they invest for growth. Let’s take a look at all three groups:
Read the rest of this entry »
Local business owners, citizens, and tea party activists are outraged over Rep. Mike Ross’s vote in a U.S. House of Representatives committee Friday in favor of HR 3200, the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.” Read the rest of this entry »
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
If you own a small business, you have a lot to think about: sales, expenses, marketing, cash flow, competition – the list goes on and on. However, by spending so much time on the issues of today, you may overlook the concerns of tomorrow. That’s why, if you haven’t already done so, you need to choose a retirement plan for your business.Which plan is right for you? It depends on different factors, such as how many employees you have and how much you can afford to contribute each year. Let’s take a look at some popular retirement plans for small businesses:
Read the rest of this entry »
According to J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Full Service Investor Satisfaction StudySM
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
The study measures overall investor satisfaction with full service investment firms based on six factors: account offerings, convenience, commissions and fees, financial advisor, investment performance and account statements. The J.D. Power and Associates study found that Edward Jones performed particularly well in convenience and account statements.
For the fourth year out of the past five, financial-services firm Edward Jones ranks highest in investor satisfaction with full service brokerage firms, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Full Service Investor Satisfaction StudySM, announced Rena Day of Monticello Branch.
Provided by Edward Jones Investments, Monticello Branch Financial Advisor, Rena Day.
As an adult, you’re fortunate if you still have your parents. However, as they get older, you may well have to assist them in some key areas of their life. Specifically, they may need you to get involved in some of their financial issues. And if you do, you may need to focus on two areas: leaving a legacy and managing finances during retirement.While initiating these conversations may not be easy for you, it is important, and you may find your parents more willing to discuss these issues than you had thought.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Buck Stop
Monticello Tire
Commercial Bank
Delta ACA
Shane Glass
Larry’s Pizza Now Open
Secure Storage
McKennon
Union Bank
Cowboy’s
SEEMS
KHBM
Save A Lot
Booth 7B March
LA Graphics
Clearview
City Drug
Arkansas Carpet
Baker’s Electrical
Centers for Youth & Families
Ryburn’s
Southern Quality Construction
Triple A Towing
Walmart
A New Day Counseling
DMH Feb. Health Hero
SeaArk (Supply/Rig/Paint)
JTS & Co. Mortgage
Farmer’s Insurance
Drager Safety
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