The Courier
News
December 18 Volume 37 ~ Number 51 News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
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Union Pacific Continues To Help Communities Grow In the early days when the railroad got to a new town, it was a celebration. The town was now connected to all other parts of the country. Supplies, people and livestock could travel easier, safer and faster to their destination. Today Union Pacific and the
Union Pacific Foundation are still hard at work making the communities they serve better places to live. The Union Pacific Foundation recently gave a generous grant to Saddle Up Lincoln County to help support the nutritional food value program in Lincoln County. The grant has given a hand to those in need and helped spur on some local business. Thanks to the Union Pacific Foundations assistance, the pioneering spirit of those who carved out an existence in this land will continue. With this revitalized “can do attitude,” people can make a difference when working together and make Lincoln County a better place to live for all.
Tax Changes for 2013 Filings As you get ready to file your tax returns, there are a number of changes you should be aware of, including personal and dependent exemptions. There is also a new tax rate of 39.6 percent for individuals with income that exceeds $400,000 ($450,000 for joint returns). The estate tax exemption is now $5.25 million per individual for estate and generation-skipping taxes, with a top rate of 40%. The annual exclusion for gifts is $14,000. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exemption amounts were
made permanent and indexed for inflation retroactive to 2012. In addition, non-refundable personal credits can now be used against the AMT. Pease (limitations on itemized deductions) and PEP (personal exemption phase-out) limitations were also made permanent and affect taxpayers with income at or above $250,000 (single filers) and $300,000 for married filing jointly starting with tax year 2013. continued on page 3.....
With $34,000.00 available in cash awards, the Magic Valley’s Art & Soul has the largest cash prizes in Idaho. The show will run for sixteen days, including two weekends, from April 18th to May 3rd, 2014, but now is the time to prepare your work of art for this event. The last day to enter is March 10, 2014, however, if you get your “artist statement” and a photo of your work in by January 12th, you will qualify for the “Early Bird” pricing of $50.00. After that date the entry fees increase to $75.00. On February 10th 2014, entry fees increase to $100, and on March 3rd the fees increase to $125. There will be a professionally judged portion that artists may enter in addition to the general competition. An extra $25 registration fee applies and can be paid along with the initial registration or anytime up until the entry deadline. An extra $3000 in prize money will be available to artists who enter the professionally judged portion of the competition. Also, new this year, there will be a separate youth category for students in elementary (K-5th grade), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 912). The entry fee for the youth portion of the contest is $10. Those artists selecting the “youth” category on their entry form will not be eligible for the general contest. There will be a $300 prize awarded to the top artist in each of the three youth categories (elementary, middle school, high school) as selected by public vote. Art entries are open in any category, including ceramic, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and woodwork. The viewing public will vote for their five favorite entries, with the top 15 artists receiving cash prizes from the total prize money available. For more information, goto magicvalleyhasart.com or call 208-734-2787 / 208-421-1311.