Eager Iowans who are hoping for a tax refund can start filing their returns as soon as next week. Filing season officially opens January 19th and ends -this year- on April 18th. Christopher Miller, the Iowa spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, says there’s plenty of free filing help available. “You can do it online for free by going to our website (www.irs.gov), or you can go to a volunteer income tax assistance site,” Miller says. “These are organizations within your community, like AARP, that do tax counseling for the elderly.”

He says electronic filing remains the best way for Iowans to complete their returns. “That insures that you’re getting all of the credits and deductions that you have coming to you and it insures that all the math is done correctly,” Miller says. “Generally speaking, it’s a more accurate return.”

Plus, he says e-filing will speed up a refund, if you have one coming. He suggests Iowans should start getting their financial documents together now, like charitable donation receipts and health care information. Miller says one -new- document you’ll need this year is the 1095-A, B or C, which you should have received if you’re getting health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

(Radio Iowa)

A local developer was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign or Yield the Right of Way, following an investigation into an accident Wednesday afternoon, in Atlantic. In an update to our earlier report, Police say Donald Sonntag, of Atlantic, was cited, after the pickup he was driving struck a car driven by Edward Stevens, of Walnut.

The accident happened at around 1:35-p.m. at the intersection of 3rd and Walnut Streets. Officials say Stevens was traveling south on Walnut and had stopped at the stop sign before proceeding into the intersection. Sonntag was eastbound on 3rd Street and failed to see the car before striking it.

An unidentified female passenger in the car suffered minor injuries, and was transported by Medivac Ambulance, to the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports his deputies conducted an investigation recently into the delivery of illegal narcotics in Fremont County. As a result, 20-year old Jessica Rose Binau, of Shenandoah, was arrested at around 3:45-a.m. today (Thursday), for Delivery of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine. Binau was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 bond. An investigation into the drug trade in Fremont County, continues.

The Atlantic School Board Wednesday evening, approved the resignations of some staff and nine certified teachers, each of whom will receive a $500 stipend for submitting their request for Early Retirement prior to the end of January.

Among the teachers whose resignations was approved by the Board, was: Margo Magill, Junior Kindergarten teacher; Paulette Hansen, 4th Grade teacher; Rita McLaren, 1st Grade teacher; Rebecca Osborne, Early Childhood Special Education teacher; 6th Grade teacher Catherine Larsen; 5th Grade teacher Kathi Hansen; High School Science teacher Nancy Jenkins; High School Math/Science teacher Steve Baier; LmB Reading teacher Pam Tibken, and Head 7th Grade Football Coach, Mike McDermott.

School Board member Jenny Williams asked McDermott why he was resigning his position at the end of the school year. He said it was because of some concerns he had and there are other things he’d like to do. He kids aren’t involved in football anymore, and the job of coaching year-around, has “taken its toll.” Williams and Board Vice-President Kristy Pellett thanked McDermott for his service, and all those teachers who are leaving.

Superintendent Mike Amstein said the district has brought in a number of talented teachers in the past few years, and while we are losing a lot of experience, they have also brought in a lot of new talent, so “It’s kind of a trade-off.” The Board Wednesday, also held a preliminary discussion on the budget. Amstein said there are still three things preventing them from making much progress on the budget, not the least of which is, what the legislature plans to do with State Supplemental Aid.  Other issues/unknowns, include increases in insurance, and the outcome of contract negotiations with Certified Staff.

And, Activities Director Matt Alexander updated the Board, Wednesday, on the Athletic Facilities Study. He said since the process of looking at the facilities began in November, they have sent out Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) to companies across the State, for the purposes of conducting a more in-depth study and coming up with options or solutions. Alexander said they had received several responses. The companies’ fees for the study ranged from $10,000 to as much as $40,000. A committee was established and bids reviewed on January 4th. The Committee narrowed down their choices to three, and interviews were held with those company representatives.

Among the areas of athletic facilities they would look at, is the Trojan Bowl, where safety is an issue, the baseball and softball fields, and tennis courts. A recommendation on which firm the committee selects will come during the next board meeting. If the Board approves the recommendation, the study could begin at the end of February.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lottery officials say a Powerball ticket sold in the state is worth $2 million. Officials say the ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball to win a $1 million prize in Wednesday’s drawing. The person who bought the ticket also added the Power Play to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million.  The buyers of tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee will share the estimated $1.6 billion jackpot or the $983.5 million cash option.

Lottery officials say people bought more than $12 million in Powerball tickets in Iowa for Wednesday’s drawing. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.