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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 | Vol. 6 Issue 13
Tax prep available to qualified residents By Roz Weis Nearly 40 Driftless area volunteers are hard at work this spring helping folks file federal and state income tax forms. Tax specialists through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) meet on a regular basis with as many as 600 qualified clients needing tax prep assistance. They offer the free tax preparation guidance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This program is designed so that traditionally underserved community members can get their taxes prepared for free -specifically low to moderate income individuals and families, single parents, the elderly, people with disabilities and limited English speakers. The VITA program is operated by volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with specific tax preparation training. RSVP and VITA have been cooperating on the program for four years. RSVP Director Deana Hageman said the tax program is one of the largest offered by RSVP and it’s a busy time of year for the volunteers.
Appointments may be made prior to the Wednesday, April 3 deadline by calling 563-2777246. VITA volunteers will help determine those eligible for the tax preparation services and provide the best method for submission of materials. Each eligible client receives assistance from a VITA volunteer to process and submit tax filing information. Program information The taxpayer meets in-person with staff or a volunteer who will verify your identification and help you to complete the intake form and order the tax documents. The tax forms and documents are scanned and uploaded to the organization providing volunteer tax preparers. Tax returns will be prepared within two weeks. The tax preparer will contact you if they have questions and when your tax return is complete and ready for review. You will come in person (or electronically) to sign the return. Once signed, the federal and state returns will be electronically filed for free.
Free tax prep
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Pictured speaking with media outside of the Winona County Courthouse are (l-r) Madeline Kingsbury’s father David Kingsbury, step-mother Cathy Kingsbury, mother Krista Naber and sister Megan Kingsbury. Media outlets from Rochester, Minneapolis, St Paul, northeastern Iowa, and La Crosse, Wis., attended the two-day pretrial hearings March 19 and 20. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Denise Lana)
Judge restricts public access to statements, grand jury evidence in Fravel two-day pretrial hearing By Denise Lana The morning of Tuesday, March 19, ushered in the first day of spring with a thick chill clad in frigid gusting winds across the North Star state. Inside the Winona County Courthouse in Winona, Minn., the atmosphere was equally chilly as people gathered outside a third-floor courtroom. News reporters quietly congregated, law enforcement officials hastened to and fro, and a huddle of 20-somethings whispered hushed conversation. A quartet of people broached the landing at the far staircase and queued up adjacent to the group of young women, who noticeably became more animated with the quartet’s arrival. Whispered conversation turned frantic buzz, and the nervous silence became heavy. The tense void was fractured split-second, as the paternal figure in the quartet bellowed out, “If you are so threatened by me, why are you sitting next to me, then?” The man’s words were obviously and angrily directed at the group of younger
women. One woman immediately exited the area, hurrying down the stairs. Within moments, the young lady returned with a sheriff’s deputy, who silently stood watch across from the two groups. The shouting man was Richard Fravel, who was joined by his wife, adult son and adult daughter to support youngest son and brother, alleged murderer Adam Fravel. The youngest Fravel was charged June 7, 2023, with two counts of second-degree murder of off-and-on girlfriend, Madeline Kingsbury, who was a close friend to several of the women who were yelled at by the Fravel patriarch. Kingsbury went missing March 31, and her remains were located north of Mabel, Minn., June 7. Fravel remained in jail under a $2 million bond, which was increased to $3 million in October 2023, after a grand jury returned additional charges of first-degree murder and aggravated first degree murder. Soon, court officials queued up family and friends, news and media persons, checking
each one for security hazards before allowing them to enter the courtroom. Fravel’s family made their way to a wooden pew behind the defense counsel table, with the news reporters scattering across the rear of the gallery. The group of young women sat shoulder-to-shoulder behind the parents and sister of Kingsbury, who sat together in the front row behind the state’s counsel table. Fravel was soon escorted into the room, clad in orange — his face and demeanor expressionless. Ambient voices hushed and the room turned pin-drop silent as Presiding Judge Nancy Buytendorp took her place at the bench and started the proceedings. Tuesday’s hearing addressed numerous pretrial motions submitted by the state and the defense earlier this year. Motions included the defendant’s motion to change venue, motion to dismiss the state’s aggravated charge, motion to dismiss one charge of first-degree murder, motion to find inadmissible any evidence, testimony, or documents relating to Kingsbury’s
medical history, motion to restrict video and audio evidence from being made public during pretrial hearings, and motion to restrict grand jury documents and evidence from being made public during pretrial hearings. Buytendorp scheduled the change of venue motion for April 30, with the remaining motions being addressed March 19 and 20. First to be addressed was a motion for a restrictive order requesting that during pretrial hearings, the public be denied access to grand jury transcripts and grand jury exhibits. This was based, in part, on the defense seeking a change of venue, with Fravel alleging he cannot receive a fair and impartial trial in Winona County because of the extensive media coverage. If the public had access to the grand jury records and transcripts, those records and transcripts could be skewed to the point of being inaccurate and prejudicial, hindering a fair
Fravel pretrial hearing
Winneshiek Co. Fair announces Saturday night entertainment Representatives from the Regional AmeriCorps Seniors office recently made a stop in Decorah to learn more about the Northeast Iowa Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), tax preparation assistance and other services provided to area communities through partner stations. Pictured are, front: Deana Hageman, Northeast Iowa RSVP Director and Sue Schulz, RSVP Volunteer and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Greeter; and back row: Mona Nelson and Jan Steiner, RSVP Volunteers and VITA Coordinators, Torri Tuttle, Portfolio Manager with AmeriCorps Seniors, and Kristin Honz, Senior Portfolio Manager with AmeriCorps Seniors. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Roz Weis)
The Winneshiek County Fair will feature a grandstand performance by American country music singer and songwriter Travis Denning – accompanied by “The Voice” Season 2 contestant Raelynn. Gates open for the show at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, July 13. Denning’s first No.1 and Platinum certified single “After A Few,” was released in 2019. Other singles include “ABBY,” “Buy A Girl A Drink” and “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs.” The fair board earlier announced that Joe Nichols will perform Friday, July 12, at 9 p.m. For more information, visit www. winneshiekcountyfair.org.
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