Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - The Lafourche Gazette

WEIRD
& WACKY
NEWS
Inmate steals money
walking out of jail
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) —
New Mexico inmate on his
ay out of jail was quickly
hrown back in after auhorities
say he stole anther
inmate’s cash then
reated himself to a hearty
unch.
The Santa Fe County
heriff’s Office told KOAT-
V (http://bit.ly/TQnEJ2)
hat 20-year-old Frank Roriguez-Tapia
swiped $80 in
ash while a guard’s back
as turned as Rodriguezapia
was walking out of
ail. The money belonged to
nother inmate who was
ust coming into the Santa
e jail and going through
ooking.
Police say Rodriguezapia
was supposed to reort
immediately to the
lectronic monitoring office,
ut bought lunch at Blake’s
otaburger. He later admited
to the theft, turned over
he remaining $67 and was
ent back to jail.
Rodriguez-Tapia is now
acing new larceny charges.
It was unclear if he had
n attorney.
Georgia store offers
gun raffle tickets to
voters
Jeff Martin
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Want a
hance to win a rifle or
andgun? Go vote. That’s
he message from an Atanta-area
sporting goods
tore.
The promotion caught
he attention of the secreary
of state’s office last
eek and drew a complaint
rom a state senator who
aid it may break the law.
Georgia law prohibits
nyone from giving or reeiving
money or gifts in exhange
for voting, and
elony charges could be
rought if the law were broen,
Secretary of State
rian Kemp said in a stateent.
Eight billboards for Adenture
Outdoors urge peole
to bring in their “I voted”
ticker to enter a raffle for a
lock handgun or Browning
ifle. The secretary of state’s
ffice warned the store
wner that offering the raffle
nly to people who voted
ay be violating the law.
Store owner Jay Walace
said the raffle was open
o anyone, even those who
on’t vote.
“Getting people involved
s what it’s all about,” Walace
said Wednesday. “I
ould encourage other
usinesses to do the same
hing.”
No action will be taken
s long as Wallace allows
nyone to enter the contest,
aid Jared Thomas, a
pokesman for the secretary
f state’s office.
“Should they violate
hat they told our office
hey would do, then that
will be taken into account
and actions will be taken
accordingly,” Thomas said.
Democratic State Sen.
Vincent Fort of Atlanta filed
a complaint Tuesday, saying
businesses are not even
allowed under the law to
offer free food or drinks to
voters.
“Now that that they’ve
expanded it and allow all
customers to participate, I
think it’s a legal raffle,” Fort
said. “I don’t have any objections
to it if it complies
with the law.”
Reaction to the raffle
has been “almost 100 percent
positive,” Wallace said.
“We received some almost
slanderous emails,” he
added. “I would say they’re
on the side of not liking
guns, to put it mildly.”
At the store in the Atlanta
suburb of Smyrna, reaction
was mixed among
customers.
“I think people should
go vote because they’re interested
in the topics of
what’s being voted for,
whether it’s the president or
your local judge,” said
Ernest Susco. “To promote
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 THE LAFOURCHE GAZETTE 9-B
IN MY TWO TERMS IN OFFICE:
- $60 million in Port Fourchon funding for port infrastructure improvements
- $48 million in capital with no debt
- Reduced insurance the port pays by 10%
- Annual budget of $85 million
- Over $20 million in improvements to Leonard Miller Jr. South Lafourche Airport
- Continuing the fight for public access to Fourchon Beach
- A voice for mariners and fishermen
For continued success of our port …
Re-elect
JIMMY “T-JIM” LAFONT
Port Commission • Seat C • #57
giving a gun away for someone
to go to vote, I’m not
crazy about that idea.”
John Keels, another
customer, said it was a
“pretty good idea.”
“Well, since this is probably
the most important
election in my lifetime, anything
that gets the public
out to vote is good as long
as it doesn’t break the law,”
Keels said.
___
Associated Press writer
Johnny Clark in Smyrna,
Ga., contributed to this report.
Tax breaks, benefits available to military families
By Jason
Alderman,
Financial
Columnist
As we honor our armed
forces this Veterans Day,
let’s also acknowledge the
financial challenges they
and their families often
face, both while in service
and after discharge.
Fortunately, service
members needn’t go it
alone: Many tax benefits,
social services and financial
assistance programs are
available to help.
Special tax benefits for
active duty personnel include:
If you move because of
a permanent change of station,
you may be able to
deduct unreimbursed moving
expenses.
If you serve in a combat
zone for any part of a
month, any military pay
you received during that
month is not considered
taxable income.
You can also include
nontaxable combat pay as
“earned income” when
claiming the Earned Income
Tax Credit for low- to
moderate-income earners.
Deadlines for filing tax
returns, paying taxes, filing
refund claims and taking
other actions with the IRS
are automatically extended
for qualifying military members.
Joint tax returns generally
must be signed by
both spouses. But, when
one spouse is unavailable
due to military duty, you
may use a power of attorney
to file a joint return.
If you’re an armed
forces reserves member,
you can deduct unreimbursed
travel expenses for
travel more than 100 miles
from home to perform reserve
duties.
As you transition to
civilian life, you may be
able to deduct certain jobhunting
costs.
Most military installations
offer free tax-filing
and preparation assistance
during and/or after tax filing
season.
The IRS’s Armed
Forces’ Tax Guide provides
an excellent summary of
many important militaryrelated
tax topics
(www.irs.gov).
A few suggestions and
precautions for military
families facing financial
challenges:
Each base command
offers free financial specialists
to discuss personal fi-
nances and help with budgeting;
many banks and
credit unions also offer
these services.
Each military branch
has a relief society and
many grant emergency
loans. Turn to them first
before taking out a payday
loan.
Check-cashing outlets,
pawn shops and other
lenders are prohibited from
charging more than 36 percent
interest to military
families for payday loans.
If you do go off-base for
financial assistance, you’re
responsible for disclosing
your military status in
order to receive military
rates.
Before signing loan
documents, make sure you
fully understand all conditions
(annual percentage
rate, monthly payment
amount, fees, penalties,
etc.) Don’t hesitate to take
the paperwork home to
think it over or consult with
a financial advisor.
Avoid pawn shop loans
that use your car’s title as
collateral. Besides paying a
very high rate, missing a
payment could cost you
ownership of your car.
Many governmental
and private organizations
provide financial information
aimed at the special
needs of the military, including:
The Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau’s Office
of Servicemember
Affairs (www.consumerfinance.gov/servicemembers)
features a variety of
financial planning tools.
Military OneSource
(www.militaryonesource.mi
l) helps service members
and families juggle such
concerns as money management,
spouse employment,
education, parenting,
childcare, relocation and
deployment.
SaveAndInvest.org, a financial
education program
created by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority
to improve military
members’ saving and investing
knowledge
(www.saveandinvest.org/Mi
litaryCenter).
The GI Bill provides a
broad range of education
benefits for veterans
(www.gibill.va.gov).
The government provides
an intensive, threeday
Transition Assistance
Program for separating or
retiring service members
and spouses to ease reentry
into the civilian workplace
(www.taonline.com/TAPOffice).
It’s vital that our military
understand the benefits
available to them – as
well as the financial pitfalls
to which they may be vulnerable.
Jason Alderman directs
Visa’s financial education programs.
To Follow Jason Alderman
on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/Practical-
Money.
Gone fishin’
A redneck with a bucket
full of live fish was approached
recently by a
game warden in Central
Mississippi as he started to
drive his boat away from a
lake. The game warden
asked the man, “May I see
your fishing license please?”
“Naw, sir,” replied the redneck.
“I don’t need none of
them there papers. These
here are my pet fish.” “Pet
fish?” “Yep. Once a week, I
bring these here fish o’mine
down to the lake and let ‘em
swim ‘round for a while.
Then when I whistle, they
Please remember to go
out and vote #62
FRANK
BOURA
MAYOR of
GOLDEN MEADOW
on November 6
Why?
• To keep our town moving forward
• To build a multi-purpose gymnasium in town
• To bring Golden Meadow Biddy Basketball
back where it belongs
• To build a skateboard area in the park
• To seek our grants and outside funds to complete
the town sewer system and seawall project and
to keep our town growing and prospering
• To welcome new businesses and keep the ones
already established
• To assist with our elderly and youth
• To build positive relationships with the Mayor,
Chief of Police, Councilmen, and citizens
• To provide NEW LEADERSHIP and NEW IDEAS
• To be your voice in Baton Rouge and Washington
• To promote our town by encouraging tourism
• To have a full time mayor with an open-door
policy for everyone
Thank you for your support, and with your vote,
together we can move this town forward.
God Bless You!
swim right back into my net
and I take ‘em home.” “What
a line...you’re under arrest.”
The redneck said, “It’s the
truth, Mr. Gov’ment Man.
I’ll show ya! We do this all
the time!” “WE do, now, do
WE?” smirked the warden.
“PROVE it!” The redneck released
the fish into the lake
and stood and waited.
After a few minutes, the
warden said, “Well?” “Well,
WHUT?” said the redneck.
The warden asked, “When
are you going to call them
back?” “Call who back?”
“The FISH,” replied the warden!
“Whut fish?” asked the
redneck.
FRANK BOURA
MAYOR of GOLDEN MEADOW
#62 #62
on November 6