Tax filing deadline less than two weeks away
The Oregon Department of Revenue is expecting to receive more than a million tax returns in the next two weeks. That number represents about half of the estimated 2.2-million returns they’ll get this year. Megan Denison with the department’s personal tax and compliance division says they generally receive half of the returns by April 1st and this year is no different.
The traditional tax deadline is April 15th, but since that’s a Saturday, and the following Monday is a legal holiday in Washington D.C., federal tax authorities have set this year’s deadline at April 18th. Oregon honors that same date.
Denison says if you have not yet filed your return, you should know that E-filing is the fastest way to get a tax refund… that’s if you have one coming.
She also said there are many free or low-cost preparation options available. One of those in Florence is the AARP tax service for seniors and low income residents. There are four more opportunities to meet with them… Thursday, April 6th and then again on the 13th, between 9:30 and two. Another will be offered on Monday, April tenth with the final session on Saturday, April 15th.
Sheriff seeking info about dead body found near Mapleton
A hiker on Siuslaw National Forest land near Mapleton discovered a dead body Friday afternoon. Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies have declined to release any information, including the specific location, other than to say they consider the death to be “suspicious in nature”. Sergeant Carrie Carver said the cause and the manner of death have not been determined, neither has the identity.
Carver also said the lack of information is intentional, citing the early stages of the investigation. She added by keeping information private, it gives people a chance to call and provide their own info to police.. They can do that by calling the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.
Gas prices at highest locally in 18 months
Retail gas prices on the west coast are marching upward as April begins. That includes the Florence area where the average cash price for regular jumped a nickel a gallon this week to $2.57. That’s the highest it’s been in more than 18 months. In September 2015 the average price topped out at $2.74 a gallon before beginning a rapid descent through the winter months. It peaked again over the summer, but never got above $2.42 a gallon…. A mark that was recorded in June of last year. The lowest average in recent months occurred in December of last year when it reached $2.15 a gallon in Florence. Since then it’s continued a more-or-less steady climb to its present level.
Marie Dodds with Triple A said the Oregon average increased six cents this week and is now $2.73 while the national average went up a nickel to $2.33.
Siuslaw Vision 2025
An organization with the goal of bringing some positive changes to the community over the next decade will provide a look at their progress April 20th in what backers of Siuslaw Vision 2025 are calling a “celebration”.
Colleen Keane with the community group Vision Keepers said the group is working on “multiple fronts”. During the April 20th event at Lane Community College in Florence they’ll talk about the Community Health Improvement Plan; Workforce Development; a new Community Paramedic Program; ReVision Florence and the latest in education.
The celebration will be presented in conjunction with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce ‘after hours’ from 5:30 to 7:00 Thursday, April 20th at LCC.
Jump Start Your Health – and Mental Health First Aid
Depression, drug abuse, other addictive behaviors take a heavy toll every year. That’s why organizers of this week’s Jump Start Your Health community health fair have placed an emphasis on mental health.
Dr. Jonathan Betlinski is the assistant director of the Oregon Health and Sciences University’s division of public psychiatry. He will present a free two hour session on the concept of mental health first aid Friday afternoon.
Jonathan Betlinski – “It’s a relatively new concept here in this country and in the world overall. The idea that we can give people some very simple, straightforward, easy to use tools so that they can be helpful for somebody who is having some sort of mental health urgency or emergency.”
Dr. Betlinski will then present two four-hour training sessions Saturday and Sunday that will lead to national certification. The course itself is free, but there is a $20 fee for course materials. Information on how to sign up for the weekend training is available Friday during the health fair at the Florence Events Center. Betlinski, along with health fair organizers will be this week’s Our Town, Wednesday on KCST, Thursday morning on KCFM.