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SECTION 2 - PAGE 12 • PLAINDEALER • WEDNE8DAY, DECEMBER 1, IMS general News Tax returns to include donation checkoffs Survey veterans on income Nearly two million Veterans Administration pensioners are receiving the agency's annual income questionnaire to make certain they still meet the legal eligibility rules. .. The questionnaire, required by law, is sent to pensioners in a special mailing that must be completed and returned to VA by Jan. 1. Pensioners who do not return the questionnaire could face suspension of their payments. This year the questionnaires go to all persons receiving pension or Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits. This includes claimants over age 72 who have been receiving pension for over two years and children. In prior years, many of these beneficiaries had not been sent income questionnaires to complete. In the past, the income questionnaire was distributed with monthly VA pension checks by the Treasury Department. Under the new system, VA is separately distributing a new and simpler questionnaire that is expected to ease the confusion that the old questionnaire caused pensioners in the past. They will also receive a worksheet to assist in completing the AIQ. Help in completing the annual income questionnaire is available from any VA regional office or from the major veterans organizations. A lottery was held in Springfield to determine which of three check-offs would get top billing on the state income tax returns. The check-offs will allow Illinois taxpayers to designate a portion of their 1963 state tax refunds to go to the Illinois veterans home, non- game wildlife or abused children. State officials, legislators and other representatives of the three causes watched as the le of each cause was sealed side a bright orange ball, the balls were placed inside a round see-though container and tumbled about, and then were drawn one by one by Illinois Revenue . Director, J. Thomas Johnson. First to be drawn was the Illinois veterans home. Second was non-game wildlife and third was abused children. As a result, they will appear in that order on the state , income tax return. Through this "check-off" system, each taxpayer. may have up to $10 of his or her refund donated to any or all of the three causes (for a maximum of $60 per joint return). Revenue Director Johnson called the lottery "the fairest way" to determine how each of these worthy causes will be listed on tax returns. "The order of th check-offs has been likened to the placement of names on an election ballot," he said. "By using a lottery, we have given each cause an equal chance of being first on the list." Legislation authorizing the check-offs was passed during the recent session of the Illinois General Assembly. The three bills and their sponsors are: SENATE BILL 220 (Sen. Virginia Macdonald- Rep. Diana Nelson) Creates the "Illinois non-game Wildlife Protection Act." Each individual income taxpayer can dedicate $10 of his tax refund, or the amount of the reftind if less than $10, to the Illinois Non-game Wildlife Protection Fund. The Depart­ ment of Conservation will ex­ pend monies deposited in the fun to protect and enhance the non- game wildlife population in Illinois. SENATE BILL 1111 (Sen. Laura Kent - Rep. Jeffrey Mays) Creates the Illinos Veterans Home Fund. Permits each individual income tax­ payer to dedicate $10 of his tax refund, or the total amount of 4 the refund is less than $10, for I the purpose of maintaining the Illinois Veterans Home in ' Quincy. The bill also allows real estate owned by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to be leased, with any funds received from such lease to be used for upkeep of the Veterans Home. HOUSE BILL 537 (Rep. Dennis Hastert - Sen. Robert Kustra) Creates the child Abuse PreventionFund. Each in­ dividual income taxpayer can dedicate $10 of his tax refund, or the amount of the refund if less than $10, to the fund. The Department of Children and Family Services is given the authority to expend such monies to fund comprehensive com­ munity based services which reduce child abuse and neglect. MOW TO SWSCRIBE TO THE SUBSCRIBERS RMcHenry • iswtirs aindealer Th* McH«nry PlolntUaler 3812 W. Elm Street, McHenry, II. 60050 •3 YEARS - $43.00 • 2 YEARS - $30.00 • 1 YEAR. $19.00 •6 MONTHS-$10.00 Nam*. Address. City. Prices good in McHenry County Teenagers talk frankly about drugs, alcohol By Cliff Ward Shaw Free Press News Service Ira B. started drinking at 14 because "my friends drank and did dope," and he wanted to be accepted by them. At 17, Ira depended on drugs and alcohol. Tuesday, Ira, 20, was at Woodstock High School discussing his experience with 30 students for a taping of "Your Chance to Live," a cable television program hosted by John Shay, director of the McHenry County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency. McHenry County State's Attorney Ted Floro and Maureen Dorgan, a counselor with the Family Center for Substance and Alcohol Abuse, joined Ira to give the teens frank talk on drugs and drinking. Ira, a McHenry County resident, told the kids he checked into a drug rehabilitation treatment center for eight months to kick his habit 'and he still attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, even though he has managed to stay off liquor and drugs for several years. "I'll go until I'm six feet under the ground," he said. "I want to stay sober." Hie kids also learned from Floro that underage drinking can land them in trouble with the law, especially if they drive drunk. Floro said he was "extremely Mother Nature's Factory Outlet Store Th* Only Jungle in 10,000 Miles <2rOVG5 For Less I TROPICAL PLANTS lOWViMoln Si. ' ST" 11:30-5 Wed., Thurs., Fri. 11-5 Sat. 1-5 Sun Closed Mon.& Tues Richmond, 11.60017 815 678-4220 Spruce up your family's tree with a special Christmas ornament from Spring Hill Mall. WfeVe got something that'll add a special touch to your Christmas tree this year. It s an original ceramic tree ornament designed exclusively for Spring Hill Mall by Haeger Potteries, Inc. This collector's item is yours for ohly $2 with $100 worth of Spring Hill Midi shopping receipts dated from November 2 5 through December 24. This limited edition Christmas omahient will be available at Center Court beginning in December. So come to Spring Hill Miill and make your family's tree look lovely this Christmas. Special Christmas Hours: November 2 5-December 11. Mond;iy-S;tturd;«\ 10:00-9:00, Sunday lOsVXVirOO December 12-December 2 3. Monday-Saturday 9:50-9: k\ Sunday 10:00-6:00 Christmas Eve, December 24. Saturday 9: Wo:00 Closed Christmas Day. December 26 Monday 10:00-9:00 mad" at all people, including teenagers, who drink and drive, and he was "offended" to see drunk drivers endangering lives. "I'm not here to preach morality," Floro said, adding his main interest was keeping drunks off the road Many of the kids shot questions at him about legal ramifications of drinking and driving. On a first offense, he said, the prosecutor will usually drop the charge to reckless driving, and the driver must then attend counseling on alcoholism. After completing the course, the person appears before a judge who decides if the course has been satisfactorily completed. A usual sentence is six months probation with a $250 fine, Floro said. ;Ay' • No more Mr. Nice Guy for a second charge, Floro said. '*You plead the charge and take your chances with the court, no matter who you are," he said. None of thfe old "cures" for sobering up, except time, will allow someone to safely operate Wttnt happens when you pour black coffee down a drunk - you get a very wide-awake drunk," Floro said. Dorgan, who has a degree in clinical psychology, said she sees a variety of age groups, teens included, that come to the center for help with alcohol and drug problems. If drinking or drug use magnifies problems, you may have developed a dependency, she said. The teeuagers, who were selected by teachers to appear, also discussed "Operation Snowball," a positive alter­ native to drinking in a sup­ portive peer atmosphere at the high school. "It lets you explore yourself and lets you become your own person," one young woman said. "We learn to get high on good times, not on artificial sub­ stances," another student of­ fered. Ira agreed, saying there were things he could enjoy now, like nature and hiking, that he could not appreciate during his period of drug dependency Both he and Drogan agreed it was important to deal with a dependency honestly. "You live with yourself, not someone else," Ira said. Drogan advised one student that if her friend has a problem, to let them truthfully know how she felt about it. "It's just real important you're honest with them and honest about your own feelings," Drogan said. Spring Hill Mall Uncomplicated Shopping. Apart from the Crowd. i Routes 31 &. 72. West Dundee. • ears, Marshall Fields, Bergner's, JCPenney and more than 115 other fiije shops. PERFECT FOR THE LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY MEAL OR PARTY SPECIAL OFFER TOMBSIfflF 2. *5°° YOUR CHOICE RC, RC 100 DIET RITE or A & W ROOT BEER 12 Pack ijg i RnH COME IN AND REGISTER TO WIN FREE 4 FOOT PLUSH SANTA Drawing Dec. 11, 1983. No Purchase Necessary. Winner Need Not Be Present. i HOP c w ° * T . . . 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