Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County 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 January 21st 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 ISED Ventures. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services. For more information about the program contact Mary Taggs at the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

The City Council in Massena will meet this evening at 5:30, instead of 7-p.m.  On their agenda are several administrative matters, including Mayoral appointments, and approval of Resolutions pertaining to setting: The agent of record of City insurance, Maximum deposit, mileage, salaries, and a Medical expense reimbursement plan for employees.

The Council will also discuss an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan and the vacating of 1st Street. At 6:30-p.m. the Massena City Council will hold its “Hazard Mitigation Kick-off.”

Officials with the City of Coon Rapids say the City has been put under a Boil Advisory following a major water main leak that drained the city’s water tower and prompted the school district to cancel classes for today (Monday). Repairs have been made to the system, but the boil advisory will remain in effect until testing shows that the water is safe for consumption.

Coon Rapids residents are advised to boil water before drinking, making ice, or brushing teeth. The water is still safe to bathe in, however.

The U-S Postal Service is closing several mail processing centers across the country this year, but none in Iowa. The reasons are twofold, according to Mike Birkett, with the National Association of Letter Carriers. First, Birkett says, Iowa already had its turn in 2011 when a mail processing center in northwest Iowa was shut down and the operation was moved to another state.

“Sioux City, Iowa, closed a plant three to four years ago and that mail all got moved up into South Dakota,” Birkett says. “So, it did affect Iowa, just not this second phase.” Second, he adds, it’s hard to justify closing facilities that postmark and sort mail for rural areas. “It’s very difficult to ship mail from one place to another and to get it back in any kind of a decent time frame,” he says, “so that’s what’s, I think, saved those.”

In the states where the processing centers are being closed, people can expect a delay of an extra day or two for cards and letters they mail to arrive.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Pottawattamie County say one person was seriously hurt during a home invasion and assault over the weekend, near Honey Creek. Law enforcement and emergency responders were called to the residence just off 170th a little after 9-p.m., Sunday. Sheriff Jeff Danker says the victim was struck by a roofing hammer. Additional information will be released later this morning with regard to the incident.