Stories
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By Mickie Douglas
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Salt Lake City
As the nation’s most successful domestic program, Social Security is something worth learning more about. That’s why the representatives at Social Security are available to share news and information about the programs and how they work.
Whether you are representing a club or an employer’s human resources department, an advocacy organization or a community association — if you have a large meeting or event coming up and you’d like to have a representative speak, please submit your request to us online at www.socialsecurity.gov/organizations.
We can speak on an array of topics, such as
• retirement, and how to prepare;
• pre-retirement, and how to get an estimate of future retirement benefits;
• disability, how it can help, who is eligible, and how to apply;
• wage reporting for small businesses and employers;
• work incentives for people with disabilities who want to work;
• how Social Security can provide extra help with Medicare...
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There's good news for Americans who want help getting a handle on their finances. The official government website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics of financial education, www.mymoney.gov, is now loaded with more information and is even easier to use.
The new site has enhanced interactive features and provides more resources to Americans seeking information that can help their personal financial decisions.
The new www.mymoney.gov website creates an online point of access to financial information from the 21 federal agencies, departments, and bureaus -- including Social Security -- that comprise the Financial Literacy and Education Commission. Visitors to the site can find information about how to plan, financially, for a host of life events, such as the birth or adoption of a child, home ownership , or retirement. Users also can find information targeted to their personal or professional situation. For instance, the site offers resources for teachers, military service members, women, parents,...
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By Mickie Douglas
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Salt Lake City UT
We’ve been telling people how quick and easy it is to apply for Medicare benefits online — even if you’re not ready to apply for retirement benefits.
And our celebrity spokespeople — the television family of The Patty Duke Show — have been spreading the word in a series of public service announcements. Reunite with television’s favorite identical cousins, and the whole family, at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.
But perhaps the best advocates we have for the online Medicare application are the people who are using the application and discovering that it really does take less than 10 minutes. Just ask your average John.
John from Wisconsin told us, “filing for Medicare online was simple and I couldn't believe what little time it took to complete."
John from Indiana said, “This month I filed for Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov. Filing online took less than five minutes from start to finish. Finding the place to start...
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Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program, will now be able to purchase food, vegetables plants, and seeds at the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market, encouraging SNAP households to buy delicious, nutritious, locally grown and produced foods. SNAP benefits are issued to households with income less that 130% of poverty. Since 2005, there has been a 71% increase in the number of households in Cache Valley that are participating in the SNAP program. With the number of SNAP recipients increasing over the last few years as a result of the economic downturn, and First Lady Michele Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative which promotes healthy eating, the CVGM board saw a need to provide local residents using the SNAP program with the opportunity to make purchases at the weekly market, which runs from May 8 to October 16, 2010. Located at Merlin Olsen Park, 100 South, in Logan, the market opens at 9:00a.m. and ends at 1:00p.m. every Saturday of the season. From...
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Being a Farmer can be considered a tough occupation at times, especially when mother nature plays mean tricks on you.
My Uncle's good ol' farm truck took quite a beating Tuesday night during those windstorms, when (while parked in one of our hay barns) the wind knocked over three 700 lb hay bales on top of her. I was rather surprised because I really was convinced that all Ford trucks are invincible (they still are, don't let this situation tell you otherwise).
The worst part was that this old truck (1982)only had 30,000 original miles on her, so she was essentially still new. The costs to fix her outweigh what she's worth, so we're gonna have to put her down.
Seriously though, we're currently looking for a new cab for the frame. Optimistically we're just fortunate she isn't a Dodge, because that would have been a COMPLETE loss. Good ol' Mother Nature....
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at the Preston High School Gymnasium, there were clowns, a ringmaster, circus peanuts, and BLOODSUCKERS! Maybe not the kind in the Twilight movies, but people were willingly paying to have their blood taken. The Health and Wellness Expo 2010 sponsored by the Franklin County Medical Center was in full swing with the theme “Under the Big Top of Health”.
It was a fun time for all. Activities for the young and old alike, prizes to be won, and many booths to educate us in many ways to help with better health and safety. One of the exhibitors was the Franklin County Farm Bureau Women's Committee. They had a safety exhibit, provided items to help with safety, and you could register to win two ATV helmets donated by Northstar's Ultimate Outdoors.
If you missed it this year, be sure to make it a priority to attend next year.
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i just love my mobile phone. Here i would share some info on mobiles and if you have anything to say feel free to post.
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Kyle Jaussi in Smithfield is energetically forcing spring in his back yard. A snowblower eradicates over one foot of snow on his garden spot. Talk about Spring Fever!
Doesn't hurt to give Mother Nature a little nudge, right?
Sent in by Marilyn Jaussi
535 S 120 E
Smithfeild, Utah 84335
Ph, 563-2586
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An iron catepiller with 64 wheels?!
Well it might not be a catepiller, but it does have 64 wheels.
This week on highway 91 traveling north towards Preston, I came across an interesting site. I call it an iron catepiller. What it really is, I don't know. But I do know that it was VERY, VERY big and required 64 wheels to transport it down the highway.
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By Mickie Douglas
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Salt Lake City UT
In support of President Barack Obama’s Transparency and Open Government initiative, Social Security has launched a new Open Government webpage.
The new webpage serves as the portal for all agency activities that support the President’s Transparency and Open Government initiative. It’s open for the public at www.socialsecurity.gov/open.
“Our new Open Government webpage gives Americans an opportunity to give us their ideas on how we can become a more open and transparent agency,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “They will be able to post their ideas on transparency, participation, collaboration, and innovation that should be included in our Open Government Plan. I encourage everyone to visit our webpage and submit their ideas, read and discuss what has been posted, and vote on the ideas that have been submitted."
Anyone is welcome to submit ideas. To send us yours, click on the link at the top right of...
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I've kind of gotten addicted to PBS's "Larkrise to Candelford". I thought Daqus was being just plain old way too hard to get, especially in view of all the grand gestures of her latest suitor, the returned local boy made good who has built a hotel in town. For crying out loud, Daqus, I was saying; I can understand you're being particular but here you are at strike three and maybe your last shot at romance. And here he's built that town clock just to impress you, given the heave ho to his former and I might add stinking rich flame, and in so doing, surrendered up a fortune in lucrative properties. And then on top of that he's been letting his remaining business go to pot out of pining for you. Don't you get the message? Just what does a guy have to do to get through to you anyway?
On further reflection, though, I think I'm getting her point of view. Daqus is not the sort of person to be swept off her feet with grandiloquent egotistical gestures. You move Daqus with honest sincere facing her and speaking...
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You are hereby SERVED this legal affidavit/ memorandum and supporting documentation of Formal Protest, pointing out Organized Crimes
by those in governments & associates in the private sector.
This notice is final, before civil suits become active against you, followed by criminal charges through Investigations by both private and governmental agencies. The major (but not limited to) Crime, is TREASON to the United States of America; by Aiding and Adhering to enemies of the Constitutional Republic, and enforcing "Illegal" forms of governments upon the people!.
You have the opportunity to reply with resolve within 30 calendar days of this notice, in order to try to get your name removed from the forthcoming suits. However, The criminal charges are not negotiable unless deals are made, with Investigation authorities for your personal witness help, against those who are listed below.
NOTICE: all of those listed below have been PREVIOUSLY served with other legal documents of RECORD, making them liable and...
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A Tiger Scout from Pack One of Logan, Utah posts the colors in honor of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary.
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With another round of layoffs hitting ATK last week, where was the hubbub? I have yet to see anything garnering any sort of real attention, just two small blurbs. I realize the government is trying to push the positives regarding decreases in unemployment, but to ignore a major impact on our own community is negligible at best.
At least one group is giving these employees hope. Primerica is hosting an open house to show people a better way. I'm not promoting the event here, you can look at the events page for that. I'm just trying to express my frustration that we aren't publicizing the extreme unemployment rates in the valley. With this 2nd round of layoffs at ATK, and the closing of LaZBoy, our valley is in turmoil. What is the local government doing about it? They can't even keep businesses in the historic district, let alone keep the attention of major manufacturing operations. Bring business to Cache Valley! Support the local economy. It can, and needs, to be done to preserve our way of life.
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Last week while driving from Egypt (east of Preston) to Preston and back, I went from fog/smog to sunshine and back to fog/smog. Depending upon where you were in the valley last week, the visibility greatly varied.
The weather lately in Cache Valley doesn't just affect us humans. The air quality and fog also have an impact on the animals and birds of the valley.
I came across these two hawks that appeared to be grounded, perched on a wheel move. I could just imagine that hunting for food in the reduced visibility was frustrating for them. I wondered if they could fly with the low visibility or if they were capable of overcoming that obstacle.
My stopping and taking pictures of them didn't seem to bother them at all. They were not going to leave their perch. Even my country western music playing on the radio did not seem to encourage them to take flight.
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By Mickie Douglas
Social Security Public affairs Specialist in Salt Lake City UT
When it comes to Social Security benefits, you may be wondering who must pay taxes on them and who does not. Let’s look at the numbers.
If you file a federal tax return as an "individual" and your total income is more than $25,000, then the answer for you is yes: you’ll have to pay federal taxes on your benefits. If you file a joint return and you and your spouse have a total income more than $32,000, you’ll be expected to pay federal taxes as well. If your taxable income is below those thresholds, there is no need to pay taxes on your Social Security benefits.
If you need to pay taxes on a portion of your benefits, you will need your SSA-1099. This form shows the total amount of benefits received in the previous year and is used to find out whether any benefits are subject to tax. You will need to submit it when you complete your federal income tax return.
You already should have received your SSA-1099 for tax year 20...
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Last week I'm was presently surprised to see the beautiful windows of the Bluebird Restaurant had been changed. The windows before were such a nice change to Logan downtown. Giving a feel of how historic the Bluebird Restaurant is. The new windows however were even better. With old time pictures of local places. You could stop and stare at the windows and see dozens of different things each time. It was a joy to walk past The Bluebird to see just the window display.
Imagine my surprise when I walked by just the other day and found it all gone. The beautiful windows that were a showcase to Logan's history vanished over night. I'm horribly saddened to see such a feature of Logan vanish without even a word.
What had happened?
The windows were something I looked forward to seeing day in and day out and now there is nothing but empty windows. (Though a few items remain, but they seem to mock what the windows where now). Why couldn't the Bluebird keep the grandness of the windows? Allow for the patrons to continue...
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Are you an avid film viewer? Prefer casual viewing? No matter your movie watching status, I’m sure you’ve noticed a difference in the amount of violence in films over the last while.
If you’re old enough to remember, you know how mild the films were throughout the 40's, 50's and the 60's even. Perhaps you’ve heard this statement before from an aged film viewer (I have): "The movies coming out now are so violent compared to the ones we had growing up." While I won’t disagree with that statement, let’s take a look back at an animated cartoon that ran from 1940-1957.
This cartoon won 7 academy awards and was witnessed by millions of kids growing up at that time (not to mention many millions more from all the years it has been in re-runs). The Cartoon is called "Tom and Jerry." Not only is it a surprisingly violent cartoon, it’s also packed with racist prejudice and harmful stereotypes.
To back my argument, take this quick and watered down version of the 1950 Tom and Jerry episode entitled: "Little Quacker"...
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By Mickie Douglas
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Salt Lake City UT
The holidays are over, the gift-giving (and spending) is done, and you’re almost finished returning all of the things you don’t want or need. You’ve even jotted down your New Year’s resolutions and plan to stick to them.
Time to relax? Maybe not right away — it’s time to start thinking about your taxes.
Here are Social Security’s top three tips for making tax time a lot easier.
1) Don’t forget the children. Make sure the kids (and all the dependents) you list on your annual tax forms have Social Security numbers. Yes, children do need Social Security numbers. There once was a time when a child did not require a Social Security card until later in life, but in 2010, that day is long gone. If you want to claim your child as a dependent on your tax return, your child will need a Social Security number. For many families, it’s not only the kids who will need a number. All dependents listed on your federal tax returns will...
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please help us we are looking for a transmishion for our 95 gmc seria 5.0 4 weel drive truck if you can help with this please e-mail us back.
thank you
rih6pack
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A great idea has been corrupted by those who cannot be trusted to provide unbiased climate information.
RealClimate.org co-founder William Connolley has been unmasked as one of the bullies that used his position to further a cause and hinder the pursuit of truth.
Alas, this combined with climategate will further the distrust of the people where both government and science are concerned.
Wikibullies - another demonstration of the depth alarmists will sink to in pursuit of their beliefs.
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Is America great? I imagine Sarah Palin wouldn't hesitate one moment to say you betcha. Me, I'm not saying we aren't great, just that in a lot of ways we haven't really been thoroughly tested yet. We've been tested in helping ourselves to a pristine continent full of resources, and we have done good, real good, on that front. But we haven't yet been thoroughly tested in sound management of a continent over the long haul, and by long haul, I mean a few thousand years. Hey, China has been tested over that long of a haul. Is China great? Well, their society and culture are still around, although they've come that close on occasion to having taken the great leap forward into oblivion, so I guess their grade is pass, just barely. Let's see how well they do on today's tests though.
Meanwhile, on this continent we've only been tested during one of the rare periods of good climate, but especially out here in the arid West, we've yet to experience a real drought. By real drought, I mean the sort of regularly...
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On March 2nd 1968 48 men of C company 4th battalion 9th infantry regiment 25th infantry division, died in an ambush.
It only took about 10 or 12 minutes for them to die. They were caught in a cross fire with interlocking fields of fire if you were there about all you could do was die. Alot of guys were wounded very badly, and some not so bad. I arrived just after the ambush, and had the task of going thru their gear, I never seen so much bloody stuff in my life, lots of bullet holes and tore up things. I became a part of the new rebuilt C company. We went on and engaged the enemy 2 or 3 times a week, and lost guys at the rate of 2 or 3 a week.
Below are the names of men from C Company 4th bn 9th inf regiment 25th inf div, they gave all they had to give, and alot of them were my friends.
Most of these guys lost their lives on 3-2-68,11-23-68, and on 12-22-68. During 1968 we had 14,594 killed in action in all of Viet Nam. The NVA
had about 208,254 Killed in action. I know its all just numbers...
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Birds are fascinating creatures. The way they fly, hover, dart, swoop, dive, nest and perch. Their distinctive markings, chirps, hoo’s and calls. There is practically no end to the time an avid bird-watcher like myself can spend studying and observing the plethora of birds that grace this great Valley and State.
Late one windy night a short time back as I was traveling past Pepperidge Farm in my company’s box truck, I watched as a rather large bird got caught in a wind current that caused the bird to fly an erratically loopy route straight for my truck. It was one of those slow motion moments, one where I knew I wouldn’t be able to swerve in time(even if I tried), as it did end up smacking into the box above the cab of my truck, breaking it’s neck and killing it instantly. I was a little surprised and saddened when I got the bird picked up and discovered that it was a Great-Horned Owl.
I found it ironic that the first time I ever got to officially “spot” one of these very difficult to spot and magnificent...
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Thought I'd share a few photos I shot at the scene of the propane induced house explosion today...
Best Wishes for the survivors in their hopefully speedy healing!
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