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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019
harrisonnewsherald.com
New tax season brings many changes They changed the withholding in the middle of the year. It’s going to be the very rare tax payer who can itemize. Susan DeMalio - Abacus Business & Tax Services
By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Tax season is upon us and has been cranking steadily for approximately a month now and many new changes are expected according to local specialists. The long hours are
beginning to add up as Susan DeMalio at Abacus Business & Tax Services (159 S. Main Street, Cadiz) will be working nearly non-stop till April 15 and probably a little beyond. One thing to note are the many tax changes with the standard deduction standing out as it has doubled to
$12,500 for individuals, $18,350 for heads of households and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly. DeMalio likes the increased standard deduction, as does Renea Riesen of H&R Block ((239 E. Warren Street, Cadiz). Both note how the average person may notice a little less back on their taxes after filing for 2018 but that’s because the government took less out during the year. “They changed the withholding in the middle of the year,” DeMalio said adding that at least in theory, the increased standard deduction will eliminate much itemization. “It’s going to be the very rare tax payer
who can itemize,” she explained. Also, state and local real estate taxes are capped at $10,000. DeMalio also explained that casualty and theft losses are now eliminated if you are not considered to be in a “federally declared presidential disaster area.” Another deduction eliminated is alimony — a big one. “If you’re divorced after Dec. 31, 2018 alimony is no longer deductible,” DeMalio said. Also, moving expenses are gone from deductions unless you are military personnel on duty, or qualified performance artists, and it’s a permanent change of station. “The personal loss jumped out at me,”
Gathering for Gable
DeMalio said. Riesen felt the standard deduction was “huge” and also pointed out the many exemptions going by the wayside. “But it’s more fair for all,” she said regarding people with children versus others who do not have any children. She said now it’s a little more equal where one isn’t penalized for not having any kids to deduct. Another change in deductions she said is that claiming someone 17 years or older is now $500 instead of dropping off to zero after a $1,000 tax credit. And the tax credit rose from $1,000 for 16 year-olds and
See TAXES PG. 2
MWCD provides more detail on water-testing, results due soon NEW PHILADELPHIA – Last week it was revealed that the Ohio Supreme Court declined to hear the case of the Harpers versus the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD). The Harpers filed suit against the District under the False Claims Act back in 2013 and again in 2015 (FCA-allows individuals to file suit on behalf of the United States government) accusing the MWCD of not being good stewards for collecting royalties on oil and gas production and felt that that belonged to the United States government. Leatra Harper also stated they fear there is potential for ground water contamination and suspected that organizations like MWCD were not testing for everything. Chief Counsel for MWCD, James Pringle wanted to know more particular concerns from the Harpers in order
See MWCD PG. 3
Engineer receives approval for road studies, RUMA extensions By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
NH Photo | ESTHER McCOY
Special guests for the birthday of Clark Gable, who was born in a two-story apartment house on Buffalo Street on Feb. 1, 1901, were authors Jacob and Jenny Floyd of Louisville, Ky. The couple has written other books but the one published in 2018 was brought with them for sale at the birthday benefit. The sale of the books, Gable memorabilia, photos and souvenirs was held at the Gable Foundation Gift Shop and tours were taken in the upstairs where William and Adelaide Gable lived and their son was born. The apartment has been transformed into what the committee felt was the look, furniture and the fads of the 1901 time. From left, Nan Mattern, Gable Foundation executive director; Jacob Floyd, holding the book “Haunts of Hollywood-Stars and Starlets;” Gary Barker, foundation president; and co-author Jenny Floyd.
Authors visit Cadiz to celebrate Gable’s birthday By ESTHER MCCOY NH CONTRIBUTOR
CADIZ - The weather wasn’t agreeable on Feb. 1, 1901, on the birthday of Clark Gable, so history is told. And aside from being sunny, the temperature didn’t rise above the 20’s on Saturday, when the 2019 birthday celebration of Clark Gable was held. Despite this, there were local Gable admirers who attended; those from Columbus; Louisville, Ky.; and other areas. Each year, Nan Mattern, Gable Foundation executive director, and her officers and committees plan a celebration. Some have been large events, with actors from the 1937 movie “Gone with the Wind” or “The Wizard of Oz.” in attendance but it has been 80 years since the movie drew the attention of the ladies and the general public and the actors are gone or well-aged.
HARRISON
NEWS-HERALD One section, 10 Pages Vol. 51, No. 38
A new idea was needed to be used this year when the birthday cake was cut and served with needed hot coffee. Mattern told that the birthday cake was donated by the Capital Health’s Meadows Carriage Inn and Family Dollar of Cadiz had donated the cups, plates, napkins and plastic eating utensils. She expressed thanks to the local community for their donations. Authors of three books, Jacob and Jenny Floyd of Louisvillle, Ky., were present to highlight their new work, “Haunts of Hollywood Stars and Starlets.” Jenny tells that she idolized Clark Gable and James Dean, and many others and learned something that seemed haunting for all of them. Regarding chapter 5, on Gable and Carole Lombard it was titled “Happily Ever After.” They married and it seemed to be the ideal union but a plane tragedy while coming back from a sale of U.S. Bonds took his love
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away. After the couple’s marriage they would drive an hour southwest and stay at the Oatman Hotel, built in 1902. Rumor has it that a man said to be Gable who was captured in photos that others had taken, other times the two could be seen hugging and walking outside the halls of the hotel. Lomabard’s spirit is supposedly haunting the Pioneer Saloon in Goodspring, NV. where Gable is said to have almost drunk himself to death after his wife’s plane crash. He spent much time in the bar, passing out and burning the bar with his cigarettes. It is said that Carole’s ghost revisits the bar in search of her distraught husband, hoping to bring him some consolation. Some feel that since they were at the top of their careers at her death and his, that they had some unfinished time to complete. There are stories on James Dean, Victor Mature, Jean Harlow, Orson Wells, Frank Sinatra and Elvis to name a few others.
Obituaries, Pg. 5 Melvin P. “Tut” Dowdle Cadiz, Ohio H. Dorlene “Momma J” Watson Jackson Sabo Scio, Ohio Beth Ann McBride Shinston, W.Va.
CADIZ – The Harrison County Engineer’s office received several approvals in dealing with FEMA, ODOT and RUMA agreements. All were presented by acting County Engineer Doug Bachman at Wednesday’s weekly meeting. First, Shell Pipeline was approved for extending some Road Use Maintenance Agreements (RUMA) with the county. Bachman stated these agreements were from last October and announced the roads they wished to extend agreements were: Harrison 45 from Hanover Ridge “to their pipeline right of way;” Harrison 22 and Harrison 44 from Bower Road to Ohio 646. Another announcement was an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to administer a project for road markings. Bachman stated it was a grant of $150,000 and “100 percent federally funded.” He said it was good for various roads throughout Harrison County “yet to be determined.” Bachman also announced three agreements with MasterMind LLC for safety studies throughout the county and are slated for 90 percent federal funding. One agreement, for $275, is for horizontal curb studies “to make sure that roads that have a traffic count above a thousand are properly signed on curbs.” The second agreement is a speed study, for Harrison 12. This involves three zones for a total of $4,200, which would cost the county $420, according to Bachman. He added that it was for “potentially” reducing the speed limit after receiving complaints regarding traffic. The last study is for roadside hazard in gathering information on where to place guardrails and Bachman stated it was for all county roads. The total cost, stated by Commissioner Paul Coffland comes to just over $22,800 with the county’s share being
See RUMA PG. 5
Question of the week
Last week’s question
Next week’s question
Do you think enough testing is done to ensure the safety of our drinkint water?
Do you think we’ll see an early spring?
Noble Byron Mason III Cadiz, Ohio
facebook.com/harrisonnewsherald
YES 33% (5 VOTES) NO 67% (10 VOTES)
YES • NO
Vote@HarrisonNewsHerald.com newsroom@harrisonnewsherald.com