Letters to the Editor

January statistics

Editor,

I am Joanna Ford, the new Executive Director at Hope Resources. Hope Resources is a wonderful organization started years ago; outgrowing the original one room in a church, to the location in Coloma we have today. Our patron base has increased 35% from 2022 to 2023, and we are assuming it will again increase this year.

For the month of January, we serviced 139 households comprised of 395 people; 114 children / 0 to 18 yrs., 197 ages 19 to 59 yrs., and 84 seniors. Number of veterans served in January is 24.

Thank you for your continued support. We could not do it without the wonderful generosity of people in the community! We are also always looking for volunteers to work in the pantry, the clothing depot, or to do pickups or deliveries. Call 269-202-6050 if interested.

Thank you!

Joanna Ford

Need for well

regulated immigration

Editor,

Recently, my wife and I were having dinner at a local restaurant and we spoke with the employees, and each worker said they were understaffed and it was difficult to get help. My wife mentioned the numerous signs she had seen on local stores advertising, “Help Wanted.” We then thought of the thousands of folks on our southern border who want a better life and are willing to work hard for it.

Immigration on our southern border has been a divisive issue for both political parties and the American peoLawrence Township

More green energy, please!

Editor,

The climate crisis is an urgent problem, calling for urgent solutions. I am so pleased that Governor Whitmer and the Democratic-majority Michigan House and Senate are moving toward green energy solutions.

On Nov. 28, the Governor signed a historic package of bills that will quadruple Michigan’s renewable energy standard, lower household utility costs, create thousands of new jobs, and protect Michigan’s air, water, and public health. We must continue this work to rid ourselves of fossil fuel dependency, just as we once stopped killing whales for oil and denuding our forests for wood fires. Solar and wind energy are critical parts of the climate solution.

My experience with solar energy has been extremely positive. With the help of the federal government I was able to fund my own solar panels in 2014. These panels have long since paid for themselves. Since I am “on the grid,” the electric company can use the excess electricity I produce, which adds to their profitability. I would have moved “off the grid” years ago had efficient battery storage been available.

We are progressing in the area of battery storage and our friends in Australia have been able to reuse and recycle every bit of the aging solar panels once they need to be replaced. These areas of technological progress will undoubtedly continue.

An example of a project that did not move us in the right direction was the construction of the last segment of the 31-33 bypass, which was signed into law by our former governor as he was leaving office. This project, which was amazingly expensive, solved not one problem of fuel savings since vehicles are taken so far out of their way to get to their connection, which is still just as dangerous as it once was. Hundreds of acres of woodlands and farmlands were lost as well.

There is no reason to default continually to broadening our dependency on nuclear power until it can be proven that we are able to safely break down the danger of radiation. We have the largest body of freshwater right here in Michigan and we should not gamble with the contamination of that water from any source. Our children and grandchildren will live with the decisions made today.

Please note that the utility companies are asking for rate hikes. How about some money, instead, for owners to install solar panels or wind turbines? Many more green energy solutions are needed in order to move forward in our efforts to resolve the climate crisis.

Cynthia Miller, Benton Harbor

IRS: Take care when choosing a tax return professional

(Press release) The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that carefully choosing a tax professional to prepare a tax return is vital to ensuring that their personal and financial information is safe and secure and treated with care.

Most tax return preparers provide honest, high-quality service. But some may cause harm through fraud, identity theft and other scams.

It is important for taxpayers to understand who they’re choosing and what important questions to ask when hiring an individual or firm to prepare their tax return.

Another reason to choose a tax preparer carefully is because taxpayers are ultimately legally responsible for all the information on their income tax return, regardless of who prepares it.

The IRS has put together a Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to help individuals find a tax pro that meets high standards. There is also a special page on IRS.gov for Choosing a Tax Professional that can help guide taxpayers in making a good choice, including selecting someone affiliated with a recognized national tax association. There are different kinds of tax professionals, and a taxpayer’s needs will help determine which kind of preparer is best for them.

There are warning signs that can help steer taxpayers away from unscrupulous tax return preparers. For instance, not signing a tax return is a red flag that a paid preparer is likely not to be trusted. In addition, taxpayers should always choose a tax professional with a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number.

Here are a few other tips to consider when choosing a tax return preparer: Look for a preparer who’s available year-round; review the preparer’s history - check the Better Business Bureau website for information about the preparer; ask about service fees; find an authorized IRS e-file provider; provide records and receipts - good preparers ask to see these documents; never sign a blank or incomplete return and review the tax return before signing it.

Taxpayers can report preparer misconduct to the IRS using Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer. If a taxpayer suspects a tax return preparer filed or changed their tax return without their consent, they should file Form 14157-A, Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit.