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PAGE 20A FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - Sunday, March 21,2004 Kiwanis Club presents charter to Vickery Creek Builders Club r —! — ——xr HHSHHHi ft I ft ft BB h i f \ |MI ■ # -s’ i- 'Oftm vt. ■#’'■ yK kwf ' V ’* IW ■■• S "^> >: ’ j/s* V& (£ ?•* $ at.aß f clferig& ®S6£4>j i h ; 4 .JL WHa I I HH ’ / It 'jj® . ■ Mk B r L:. ; y i pIkBLm- ? WBMm Photo/Submltted Cumming Kiwanis Club presented a charter and banner to a new Builder’s Club at Vickery Creek Middle School. Pictured club members: Travis Oates, Josh Fogus, Adrianne Miller, Danielle Elrod, Haylee Blaylock, John Whitaker, Derek Sparks, Brennan Fogus, Kristine Thompson. Also pictured are teacher advisors Leisa Rickie and Cindy Carr, Kiwanis members Mike Madden, Phil Eve, Marty Byars and Bob McAlister. IRS has S74M waiting for Georgians from 2000 Unclaimed refunds totaling more than $74 million are awaiting more than 70.000 Georgians who failed to tile a 2000 income tax return, the Internal Revenue Service announced. In order to collect the money, however, a return must be filed with an IRS office no later than April 15. 2004. The IRS estimates that half of those who could claim refunds would receive more than SSOO. In some cases, indi viduals had taxes withheld from their wages, or made pay ments against their taxes out of self-employed earnings, but had too little income to require filing a tax return. Some tax payers may also be eligible for the refundable Earned Income New Reductions Have Been Taken! —Jpectaciuar K£!JB - Jft \ Career & Social Suits for Misses & Petites A / Le Suu • Preston & York • Emily • John Meyer • And others V /, *'J Choose from a great assortment of spring styles. r > Misses'B-18. Petites’4-14. I ' Selected styles. Selection varies by store. W’T ■-W- "1 • ■? / W ■/ d' * ' / I’ Ii * 11 > w I 'r;-; ,V, * < ———J J 'V - ■ 1 I "■■i ■ • ■ ■ ■ A IB mH H v ■ ■■ ■ H■ Tr ■' w i ■ w H H H H H H HHB B B 1 ~ Y-Lu ~...■ YIYxIL. USE YOUR DILLARD’S CHARGE. WE ALSO WELCOME VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DINER’S CLUB le DISCOVER CARD. North Point Mall in Alpharetta, (770)410-9020 • Mall of Georgia, (678)482-5241 • Mon.-Sat. 10-9, Sun. 12-6. Tax Credit. "The clock is running if you want to get your refund," said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. "People who aren't required to file sometimes overlook that they had tax withheld. Don't wait until it's too late. We want all taxpayers to get the refund they’re due." In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2000 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2004. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, postmarked and mailed by that date. There is no penalty assessed by the IRS for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2000 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2001 or 2002. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as stu dent loans. By failing to file a return, individuals stand to lose more than refunds of taxes withheld or paid during 2000. Many low-income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Although eligible taxpayers may get a refund when their EITC is more than their tax. those who file returns more than three years late would be able only to offset their tax. They would not be able to receive refunds if the credit exceeded their tax. Generally, individuals qual ified for the EITC in 2000 if they earned less than $31,152 and had more than one qualify ing child living with them, less than $27,413 with one qualify ing child, or less than $10,380 and had no qualifying child. Current and prior year tax forms are available on the IRS Web site (www.irs.gov) or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1- 800-829-3676). Taxpayers who need help also can call the IRS helpline at l-M)0-829-1040. Transportation Board elects new officers for year Brad Hubbert, who repre sents the 4th Congressional District on the State Transportation Board, was elected as board chairman for the upcoming year on March 18. Hubbert, who is currently chairman of the board’s Equal Access Committee, will begin his term in April. Hubbert joined the board in 1981. He is a former pro fessional football player for the San Diego Chargers and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Hubbert attended the University of Arizona and is a former vice president of McDonald’s Local Advertis ing Committee and a board member of the McDonald’s Inc. Local Association. Hubbert succeeds Johnny Gresham of Marietta as chair man. Ward Edwards, who repre sents the 3rd Congressional District, was elected as upcoming board vice chair man. Edwards joined the board in 2003 and attended the University of Georgia. He served 24 years as a state rep resentative and was an aide to former Speaker of the House Tom Murphy. Edwards succeeds Jimmy Lester of Augusta as vice chairman. All board members attended the meeting. Board members representing For syth County include Mike Evans of Cumming, repre senting the 10th Congres sional District, and Garland Pinholster of Ball Ground, representing the 7th Congressional District. Also March 18, the board adopted a resolution on directing the transportation department to commence negotiations with Norfolk Southern railroad for imple mentation of the first segment of the Macon Corridor from Lovejoy to Atlanta. Norfolk Southern owns the rail line which would pro vide a commuter rail link from Atlanta to Macon. During the March 18 meeting, the board heard a recommendation from its Equal Access Committee to increase the department’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal to 15 percent. The board agreed to form a study committee to deter mine if the increased goal is attainable. The department’s current DBE goal is 12 per cent. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) required that the goal be updated each year. In other business, the board approved seven addi tional resolutions including commendations honoring Lester and Lawrenceville res ident Steve Reynolds; both are leaving the board. The board approved 579 projects in 99 contracts for 830 miles of improvements to the state transportation sys tem for the April’s letting include 541 Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) proj ects totaling S3B million. The action was preceded by the March 17 Committee of the Whole meeting at which the projects and changes were discussed.