Humboldt County News
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Certified Nursing Assistant Courses at Great Basin College
The Great Basin College Nursing Program will offer two training sessions for students interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
NURS 130, E02, "Nursing Assistant", will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. January 9 – May 30, 2007. Clinical days are Thursdays 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. February 8, 22; March 8, 15, 22; April 12, 19, 26; May 10, 24. (No classes March 26 – 30).
NURS 130, E03, "Nursing Assistant", will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. January 9 – May 30, 2007. Clinical days are Fridays 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. February 9, 23; March 9, 16, 23; April 13, 20, 27; May 11, 25.
The Nursing Assistant course provides students with the classroom, laboratory and clinical experience to make them eligible to take to the State Certified Nursing Assistant Examination. Students must have proof of a current negative one-step TB test or negative chest x- ray to enroll in class and a current adult CPR certificate. The CPR certification is taught at American Red Cross, 753-9600 or through the American Heart Association at 738-8046. A CNA license qualifies for an entry level position in the health care industry. It also opens the door to further study and advancement in health care. For more information on the CNA Program at Great Basin College, contact Jo Dean, RN at 775.753.2216 or Lisa Robinson at 775-753-2301.
Time running short for 2006 tax moves
The Internal Revenue Service this week reminded taxpayers they have about three weeks left to make their final financial moves for the 2006 tax year.
Taxpayers can take the first step toward tax planning by reviewing tax law changes featured on the IRS Web site. A little advance planning now could save taxpayers time - and perhaps even money - later.
For many families, tax planning may mean adjusting withholding allowances for more take-home pay, gathering records for pertinent deductions like the child and dependent care credit, for example, or considering charitable donations. A 2006 law change states that clothing and household goods donated after August 17, must be in "good" condition or better in order to qualify for a charitable donation.
For investors, tax planning may mean deciding which stocks to sell or buy. It may also mean contributing to a tax-deferred retirement plan or IRA. The maximum IRA contribution for the 2006 tax year is $5,000. The Retirement Savings Contribution Credit, or "Saver's Credit" is also available to eligible taxpayers and was made permanent from the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
The Energy Act of 2005, The Increase Protection and Reconciliation Act and the Pension Protection Act all came into play in 2006. Taxpayers need to be mindful of the major tax law provisions offered in these Acts.
Eligible taxpayers can deduct IRA contributions and moving expenses, if applicable. Students may deduct interest on college loans, and spouses may deduct alimony payments. These items are among the tax deductions that are "above the line" and can reduce taxable income.
According to the IRS, many people can benefit by itemizing their deductions on Schedule A of form 1040. Taxpayers should consider using Schedule A if their itemized deductions exceed their standard deduction. For the 2006 tax year, the standard deduction is $5,150 for single taxpayers and $10,300 for married taxpayers who file jointly.
Among the common deductions itemized on Schedule A are state and local income taxes, real estate taxes and home mortgage interest. Charitable donations are only deductible on Schedule A and taxpayers should keep a record or paper trail of their contributions.
Refinance or sell a home this year? Eligible taxpayers may be able to deduct some costs associated with their loans such as points and home mortgage interest. Taxpayers who sell their home after living in it as their main residence for two of five years may exclude from tax up to $500,000 in capital gains from the sale of the home.
The IRS Web site is a reliable federal tax resource; taxpayers are encouraged to visit www.irs.gov for more information.
During this festive holiday season company Christmas parties abound. With that in mind, the Winnemucca Police Department wanted to remind local citizens to celebrate the season safely. By following a few simple guidelines you will make your celebration safer and more enjoyable for you and your guests. If you are planning a company Christmas party consider the following;
·
Always serve food if alcohol is being offered.
·
Offer a variety of non-alcoholic drinks for your
guests that don’t drink.
·
Never drink and drive! Use the services of a
designated driver or taxi service.
·
Never drink on an empty stomach and never drink to
excess. Know when to say enough.
·
Remember the “One – To – One” rule.
Generally speaking, for every alcoholic drink you consume, plan on at least an
hour for that drink to leave your system.
·
Don’t be afraid to refuse alcohol if you don’t
want to drink.
Chief of Police Bob Davidson advised that he will have extra officers on duty throughout the holiday season to search out drunk drivers. Don’t take the risk! Use a designated driver, take a taxi, or ask for a public assist ride home. Celebrate the season, but do so safely and sanely.
Post-fire season grazing workshop scheduled
A workshop will be held at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko Field Office
to discuss post-fire vegetation rehabilitation objectives as they affect grazing
on public lands.
The workshop will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2006, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
and will be repeated on Saturday, December 16, 2006, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at
the BLM Elko Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nev. The workshop
is free and the public is invited.
The purpose of the workshop is to present and discuss the rehabilitation
objectives that have been developed for vegetation which burned on public lands
in the 2006 fire season.
“This workshop is particularly important to anyone affected by
wildfires this year,” said BLM Elko Renewable Resources Manager Shane DeForest.
“It is also highly recommended for anyone who could possibly be affected by
wildfires in future years.”
“We’ll be discussing resource needs for watershed health and important
habitat needs as they relate to fire rehabilitation and recovery,” said
DeForest. “In the post-2005 fire season, there were misunderstandings and
debate about BLM’s resource objectives and how they related to grazing
closures. We’d like to avoid that this year and invite people to come to
the workshop and visit with us.”
For questions or more information about the workshops, please contact Shane
DeForest or any Rangeland Management Specialist at the BLM Elko Field Office
(775) 753-0200.
Northern California Artist Wins 2007 Nevada State Duck Stamp Contest
Nevada’s state duck stamp for 2006-07 will feature a strikingly realistic pair of wood ducks painted by Ken Michaelsen, of McCloud, CA.
Even though the artist won the coveted Federal Stamp Duck Stamp Contest in 1979, Michaelsen said that he considers his Nevada win a "nice coup." The artist said that winning Nevada’s contest has been one of his goals. The state’s contest is well-known in the art community for having one of the few state competitions open to all artists regardless of residence, and having an unquestionably honest and upright judging session of all entries received.
This was only the second time Michaelsen has entered Nevada’s contest. He previously entered the contest in 1998. The artist has won several state competitions, including his home state of California. In 2005 he won the Louisiana state contest with a beautiful rendition of a hunting dog with pintail ducks.
The 70-year-old artist has been painting and drawing in all mediums for over 45 years. The first part of his career was working as a commercial illustrator for the San Jose Mercury News. In the mid 1970s he decided to work exclusively in wildlife art, specializing in bird species. A sample of his work can be seen on his Web site at www.duckart.com.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife’s (NDOW) state duck stamp art contest was sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association. Under contest rules, all entries were required to feature the wood duck - the designated species for the 2007 contest. A total of 45 paintings from talented artists were received from across the US and Canada. The winning artist does not receive a financial prize, but does maintain full reproduction rights. Limited edition color reproductions are usually printed and sold for an estimated $175.
The wood duck is a conservationist’s success story. Through conservation efforts, including a ban on the hunting of wood ducks from 1918 to 1941, this species was brought back from the brink of extinction. Over-hunting of this species and a loss of its riparian/woodland habitat were some of the factors leading to the wood duck’s near-extinction.
In Nevada, this colorful species continues to become more common, with flocks containing well over 200 birds spotted by biologists every year. Over the past 50-plus years, sportsmen and bird enthusiasts alike have placed numerous wood duck nesting boxes in appropriate locations throughout the birds nesting territory. These nesting boxes have been very successful, and are credited as a major reason these birds have continued to flourish in the Silver State.
Both bird watchers and hunters agree that the drake, or male wood duck, is one of the most beautiful duck species found in North America. Almost every color in the rainbow adorns this species, including chestnut brown accompanied by shades of burgundy on the chest; a brilliant combination of metallic, iridescent shades of greens and blues on their head and body, to the bright red and yellow colors found on their bills and eyes.
Compared to the male, the female wood duck is a bit drab in color - mostly gray and light brown, with a distinctive white teardrop shaped ring around its eye.
Michaelsen’s painting will be depicted in full color on the state’s 2007-2008 duck stamp. The $10 stamp is required of all who hunt waterfowl in the state. For the first time, waterfowl hunters can purchase their state duck stamp at the beginning of Nevada’s license year, which runs from March 1, 2007 through February 29, 2008. For the convenience of hunters and collectors, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners voted to change the stamps availability date from late August to coincide with the annual license year. Stamps and licenses are expected to be available in mid to late February 2007.
For further information about Nevada’s duck stamp contest, or to view the top 10 contest entries, visit NDOW’s Web site at www.ndow.org.