Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County next month, for low and moderate income taxpayers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. For more information or to make an appointment call on or after February 1st to 712-755-3104. Call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After an appointment is scheduled the taxpayer will receive a confirmation letter explaining what to bring to the appointment.

The VITA program is open to Iowa residents with adjusted gross income below $57,000. Tax preparation services will be provided by IRS trained and certified local volunteers who utilize the Tax Wise software to complete returns. Most returns will be electronically filed and to speed up the refund process participants are encouraged to have a savings or bank account, although it is not required. Taxpayers can have refunds deposited into more than one account and also purchase Series I US Savings Bonds.

Only Basic Federal, Iowa and nearby state returns will be processed. The program does not prepare Schedules or Forms related to Business profit/loss (except Schedule C-EZ or C with business expenses under $10,000), Capital gains/losses, Farm or rental income, Employee business expenses, or Moving expenses. A professional tax preparer should be consulted for these services.

In Shelby County the VITA program is a joint effort of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa Center for Economic Success. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services. For more information about the program contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A northwestern Iowa woman has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she intentionally crashed the car she was driving into another vehicle.
Melissa Ebert entered a written plea on Friday to two counts of attempted murder and other crimes. No trial date has been set.

Prosecutors say the 29-year-old Ebert threatened to kill herself and her passenger, Damian Johnson, before purposely veering her car into the path of an oncoming car on Sept. 9. Court documents say Ebert and Johnson were arguing before the collision. The collision severely injured Ebert, Johnson and the driver of the other car.

Police in Creston say one person was arrested Monday night on an OWI/1st offense charge. Jon Moberg, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 9-p.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Moberg was later released on $1,000 bond.

Creston Police are also investigating a break-in and theft, both of which were reported Monday. A resident in the 900 block of W. Summit Street in Creston, told police that sometime between Midnight Jan. 22nd and 10-a.m. Jan. 23rd, someone broke into and vandalized his rental property at 304 S. Vine Street. The front door of the home was kicked-in, causing damage to the door jam, and broken glass throughout the house. A patio door was also broken, and the home’s thermostat turned-up. The Damage was estimated at $650.

And, a resident in the 600 block of Grand Avenue in Creston, said someone took a charcoal grill off her front porch. The theft, which occurred sometime between Jan. 18th and 25th, resulted in an estimated loss of $150.