712 Digital Group - top

Branstad, Reynolds Announce 2016 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Program

News

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said today (Monday), that eligible Iowans can now buy a home and reduce their federal income tax liability by up to $2,000 a year for the life of their mortgage through the Take Credit mortgage credit certificate program administered by the Iowa Finance Authority. IFA logoApproximately 780 home buyers are expected to benefit from the program in 2016, which is now available for new purchases through a network of lenders throughout the state.

The program provides eligible home buyers with a tax credit against their federal income tax liability every year for the life of their mortgage. Eligible homeowners may take fifty percent of their annual interest paid on the mortgage loan, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year, for up to 30 years. The remaining mortgage interest may be taken as a deduction from taxable income if the home buyer itemizes.

Eligibility for the Take Credit Program requires home buyers to meet household income and purchase price limitations and meet the definition of a first-time home buyer. The federal income limits vary by county and household size, currently ranging from $67,500 to $115,220 per year. A purchase price limit of $258,000 applies statewide with the exception of federally Targeted Areas where the limit is $316,000. A first-time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned their primary residence in the past three years but also includes home buyers purchasing in a federally Targeted Area and qualified veterans who have not used tax exempt mortgage financing previously.

Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison said “Interested home buyers can apply for a mortgage credit certificate through a Take Credit Participating Lender as part of their financing process. Home buyers will need to have approval of the mortgage credit certificate before they close on a home so they should ask their lender about this opportunity early in the application process.”

After an eligible, pre-approved homeowner has closed a mortgage loan with an IFA Take Credit Participating Lender, IFA will issue the homeowner a mortgage credit certificate. The homeowner in turn may apply the credit against their federal income tax liability on an annual basis for the life of their mortgage. The credit may be claimed on IRS Form 8396.

More information is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/TakeCredit.

Corning man arrested on drug warrant

News

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Adams County was arrested Sunday evening on a Taylor County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance. 45-year old Randy Allen Etheridge, of Corning, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, and later transferred to the Taylor County Jail.

The Wellmark Foundation announces 2015 MATCH grant recipients

News

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Wellmark Foundation has announced 13 Iowa organizations as recipients of its 2015 Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant program. The 13 grants amount to a total of $824,805, and are designed for plans to develop, implement and enhance local wellness and prevention projects with an emphasis on promoting active living and built environment and increasing access to and consumption of nutritious foods.

image001Among the grant recipients who were able to raise the necessary matching funds, was the City of Manning, which received a $75,000 grant for its Hospital Connector Trail Bridge. The Manning Regional Healthcare Center opened a new hospital, clinic and recovery center on the edge of Manning in May 2014 to replace a previous downtown facility. That created a very strong need for additional trails, so patients, visitors and employees could have pedestrian access to health care. In addition to the pedestrian transportation benefits, the trail will be used by many for active lifestyle and recreational purposes as it ties into a popular, existing trail, built in 2014.

This was the third year that The Wellmark Foundation offered the MATCH grant program.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 1/11/2016

News, Podcasts

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

GERALD “Chris” WILLIAM CHRISTENSEN, 75, of Earling (Svcs. 1/14/16)

Obituaries

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

GERALD “Chris” WILLIAM CHRISTENSEN, 75, of Earling, died Sun., Jan. 10th, at the Little Flower Haven Nursing Home. Funeral services for “CHRIS” CHRISTENSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Jan. 14th, at the 1st Assembly of God Church, in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home, in Harlan has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday (1/13), from 4-until 6-p.m.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

GERALD “CHRIS” CHRISTENSEN is survived by:

His sons – Timothy Christensen, of Earling, & Troy Christensen, of Peoria, AZ.

His sisters – Carolyn (Kenneth) Hursey, of Harlan; Cheryl Hansen, of Elk Horn (IA); & Char (John) McKeagon, of Beebeetown.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 1/11/2016

Podcasts, Sports

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

Play

Creston Police report 1/11/16

News

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department reports a teen was referred to Juvenile Authorities Friday morning, on a charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree. 16-year old Timothy Kohl, of Creston, was then released to the custody of his mother.

And, early Saturday morning, 29-year old Ryan M. Weis, of Creston, was arrested at his home on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Weis was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 1/11/2016

News, Podcasts

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Play

Skyscan forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 1/11/16

Weather

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly Cloudy to Cloudy. High 25. Light snow or flurries. W @ 10-15.
Tonight: Mostly Cldy w/scattered light snow or flurries. Low 5. N @ 10-20.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 12. NW @ 10-20.
Tom. Night: Mo. Cldy w/temps rising into the mid-teens.
Wednesday: P/Cldy to Cldy. High around 28.
Thursday: P/Cldy. High near 40.

Our 24-hour in Atlantic ending at 7-a.m. today was 14 (Sunday’s actual daytime High was 11). Our 24-hour ending at 7-a.m. today, was -8. Last year on this date we reached 39 for a High and 7 was the low. The All-time Record High in Atlantic on this date was 55 in 1986, while the Record Low was -22 in 1892.

MARTHA BELLE AUERBACH, 91, of Atlantic (Svcs. 1/15/16)

Obituaries

January 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

MARTHA BELLE AUERBACH, 91, of Atlantic, died Sat., Jan. 9th, at Atlantic Specialty Care. Funeral services for MARTHA BELLE AUERBACH will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., Jan. 15th, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

MARTHA BELLE AUERBACH is survived by:

Her children – Tom Auerbach, of Atlantic; Cheri (Tom) Wood, and Jane (Randy) Thompson, all of Gilbert, AZ., and Pam (Dan) Gipple, of Shellknob, MO.

Her sister – Meroy Larson, of Atlantic.

8 grandchildren & 3 great-grandchildren.