How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
High school officials notified parents Monday that a message indicating a vague bomb threat toward the school's campus was left on the Middletown High School office's voice mail.
“At the point that the message was heard the fire alarm was pulled and all students were evacuated onto the softball fields or held at the front of the school, and then moved towards the fields,” Principal William Roderick said in a letter to parents and students.
Roderick said law enforcement was contacted immediately.
Fire officials and sheriff's deputies responded to the scene as parent Lynn Figone was dropping off her two children at Minnie Cannon Elementary, which is on the same site as Middletown Middle School and Middletown High.
Seeing the situation unfold, Figone decided to keep her children with her and wait until the situation was resolved.
“Once the sweep was done and I could return the kids to school they were a bit scared and confused about why someone would do that,” said Figone.
Deputies did a sweep of the campus while students were kept clear. “After checking the facility, and careful consideration and evaluation of the threat by law enforcement, as well as school administration, the decision was made for students to return to campus,” Roderick told parents.
Roderick said the bomb threat is part of an ongoing Lake County Sheriff's investigation. “When the person or people responsible for this threat are caught they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Last April, a message was left at the school that a bomb had been planted in a school locker, resulting in the school's evacuation while the school grounds were searched, as Lake County News has reported.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
The California Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred just before 5 p.m. on westbound Highway 20 east of Walker Ridge Road, which is about 15 miles east of Clearlake Oaks.
Initial reports said the vehicle involved was an SUV, but it was later reported to be a four-door sedan.
Officials reported that the sedan was 50 to 75 feet off the side of the road, and a long cable was needed to secure the vehicle and recover it.
Two people were said to be involved, both complaining of back pain, according to officials.
Fire and medical crews responded to the scene, and REACH air ambulance was summoned for medical transport.
Initial reports indicated major injuries but no further information about the extent of injuries or the names of those involved was available late Monday.
Harold LaBonte contributed tot his report.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
The CHP is reminding all revelers to make sure they have a sober designated driver to make their trip home a safe one.
For those drivers who do not heed this advice, the CHP will be out in force looking for and arresting anyone under the influence and behind the wheel.
“We want people to enjoy themselves and have a good time, but safety on the roadways is everyone’s responsibility” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “If you are going to be drinking, make sure
you have a designated driver who will not be consuming alcohol to get you home safely.”
The number of people killed in alcohol-involved collisions statewide in California has risen from 1,233 in 2000 to 1,489 in 2007. On St. Patrick’s Day last year, 50 people were injured in 110 alcohol-involved collisions statewide.
“Every CHP officer and local law enforcement will be looking for impaired drivers on St. Patrick’s day, and every other day too. This is about saving lives,” said Commissioner Farrow.
The CHP also reminds motorists to report suspected drunk drivers by calling 911 so law enforcement can intervene and remove an intoxicated driver from the roadway before they injure or kill someone. Callers should be prepared to provide dispatchers a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.
The CHP will continue to emphasize DUI enforcement and education efforts, especially around holiday celebration times such as St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day and Halloween.
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
LAKEPORT – A rainy Sunday gave local businesses a chance to get together, make connections, and introduce and promote their products to community members.
The first Around the Lake Business Expo was held Sunday in the Little Theater at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
The expo hosted 25 vendors, including Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast, Twin Pine Casino, Westamerica and Wells Fargo banks, Lakeport's Radio Shack, Sandi's Interiors, Penny Lane Thrift Shoppe, Curves, Harbor House Espresso, A Gift Horse, The Virtuous Woman, Serenity Massage and Day Spa, Kendra's Tax Preparation, C & G Enterprises, Pampered Chef, Partylite Candles, Totally Pawsome, Innovated Marketing Trading Company, and the Hue de la Roque Farm.
Karen Long and Kendra Runyon of Big Diva Promotions put on the show as a way of giving local businesses a late-winter boost. Long and Runyon said they felt the event went well.
The day saw numerous visitors come through the expo's doors, winning door prizes and receiving sample products from vendors.
To hear from the businesses at the show, click on the video above.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
The new site can be found at www.recovery.ca.gov.
The launch happened on March 13, the day after Schwarzenegger administration officials attended a White House conference on federal economic stimulus in Washington, DC.
The Web site will provide Californians with new tools to monitor ongoing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act activity and provide up-to-date information about how and when their federal tax dollars are spent.
As information becomes available, the Web site will also post the geographic distribution of expenditures through the use of digital mapping technology.
“We are working hand-in-hand with President Obama to help put Californians back to work and revitalize our economy,” Schwarzenegger said. “We are fighting for every federal stimulus dollar – and will work to ensure each dollar is spent effectively and with transparency and accountability.”
In addition to providing information on federal funds as they are received and expended, the Web site will also be used by the state to fulfill federal reporting requirements. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act requires states and other grantees to report project status, spending, and job creation and retention to the public on a regular basis.
Reporting included on the Web site will also include announcements for grant competitions, allocations of formula grants and awards of competitive grants. The President’s Council of Economic Advisors will report quarterly on the estimated impact on employment and economic growth.
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
I will get back to the AMT because that still is a major issue that is not going away; however, we need to learn about all the provisions that have just been announced. This law contains important information on the AMT.
I mentioned in an earlier article, when a major new bill is passed, first the headlines, then the basic details and then a bit later the procedures and how this all will work.
We have passed the first step and now are in step two while step three should take a bit of time. Most of these provisions are for tax years 2009 and 2010 but a number do apply to tax year 2008.
First a correction: the federal new homebuyers' credit is for homes purchased BEFORE Dec. 1, 2009. I believe I mentioned the end of the year, which in this case would not be accurate.
The vast majority if the federal stimulus bill affects tax year 2009 and 2010. This means there could be outstanding opportunities available depending on your situation. There are, however two major provisions that effect tax year 2008.
The first concerns net operating losses for small businesses.
A net operating loss is a situation when expenses exceed income. If their expenses are investment or business, then the excess or net operating loss – NOL – can be used as a deduction for other years.
Currently, the federal allows either a carry back of two years or a carry forward. A carry back means that one must amend that return and apply the losses. Generally this means that they will get a refund from that year. It also expends the statute of limitations for that year, so it is a trade off.
The statute of limitations defines how long the Internal Revenue Service or the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) have under normal circumstances to examine your return. Under normal circumstances, the IRS has three years and the FTB has four years. If used, the taxpayer must go back to the second previous year and then apply anything left over to the next year and then into the future. An option to this is to forgo the carry back and just use this loss on future tax returns. I’ve mentioned just the basis; the actual rules are quite a bit more complicated.
There is a new NOL for small businesses. A small business is defined by having gross receipts of under $15 million dollars, and this is an average of year years. Under these new provisions, small businesses that generate an NOL in years either beginning or ending in 2008 will have expanded carry back options. This will allow the businesses more freedom to carry back an NOL, amend a previous tax return and receive a refund.
An affirmative election must be made on the return and there are some traditional rules and complex details so be sure to discuss this with an accountant if you are not familiar with the rules. The state has not conformed to this provision, so there will be timing issues if you have an NOL. This provision has two major benefits, the first is that this allows you to get a refund faster and allows more options to select a carry back year with the highest tax brackets.
The other major change affecting tax year 2008 is the first-time homebuyers' credit. This is an extension of the credit form 2008 with some major change. This applies to purchases made after Jan. 1, 2009, and before Dec. 1, 2009. Remembers that if the purchase is close to either date, make sure escrow begins or ends within the applicable dates. The maximum credit is increased to $8,000 and the repayment provision has been eliminated.
To increase the speed of receiving a refund, you can claim the credit on the 2008 return, even if purchased in 2009. There are three major limitations if you make this election;
You qualify only if neither you nor spouse has owned a principal residence for at least three years as of the date of purchase. You have to live in the residence for at least three years or you have to pay back the credit and the credit will be reduced if your income is $75,000 or more and completely eliminated at $95,000 and for married, the numbers are $150,000 and $170,000.
Not to be out done, California has passed their own version of the credit. As too often happens, the California bill is quite different from the federal provision.
The California credit is for the purchase of a brand new, never-occupied home. The credit is $10,000 and there are no income restrictions. The details are:
1. The credit is available if you purchase a personal residence on or after March 1, 2009 and before March 1, 2010. You must occupy the home as your residence for at least two years or the credit must be paid back. Remember to watch the dates very carefully; when it said after March 1, 2009, that means escrow statement must be dated after that date.
2. You take a third of the credit per year, so if you purchase the home in 2009, you get one-third of the credit on tax years 2009, 2010 and 2011.
3. The seller must provide you with a certificate that they obtain from the Franchise Tax Board within one week of purchase.
4. There is a limited funds for this credit, soothe fact that you qualify and make all the steps properly does not mean that you will actually receive the credit. The FTB has announced that they will have a counter on their website to let people know the status of the fund.
5. So, if you are considering this credit, you should act as fast as possible.
As a reminder, a major part of the California bill is that the sales tax will increase by 1 percent starting April 1.
So we see that of the two major bills passed, the federal stimulus and the California budget bill the federal tends to give some tax breaks while the California bill tends to increase tax. I will write more about these bills in my next article and of course will get back to the Alternative Minimum Tax because it’s still very important and is part of the new federal stimulus bill.
Jon Meyer is a local tax accountant and enrolled agent with more than 25 years experience in tax preparation. The office of Jon the “Tax Man Meyer” also offers retirement planning and insurance options. For more information call 928-5200.
{mos_sb_discuss:4}
