Peacefully, with family by his side, Allan Floyd Burnell passed away Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at the age of 74 years, at Bethesda Hospital, Steinbach, Manitoba.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Mary; daughter, Tammy Ekman (Glen); grandson, Jeremey Ekman; daughter-in-law, Lisa Burnell; grandson, Bryan; granddaughter, Nicole; and two brothers, Julius (Heather) Burnell and Harold (Judy) Burnell.
Allan was predeceased by one son, Wayne Burnell.
As per Allan’s request, cremation has taken place.
A graveside service and gathering of family and friends is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Forest Hill Cemetery, International Falls.
Lunch will be served at the VFW.
Vita Funeral Home, Vita, Manitoba, is in charge of arrangements.
Dear Senior Legal Line:
I am 69 years old. I retired from my job in 2013 and started collecting my Social Security benefits. Now that it is my first year with only Social Security benefits as my income, I am confused about if and how I should file my taxes. — Signed, Nettie
Dear Nettie:
Seniors like you, age 65 and older, often have questions about their income tax obligations. Because your income has changed, you have questions and concerns about what will be taxed, how it needs to be reported, and what credits you may qualify for. This article will focus on Minnesota taxes. This and other information can be found in “Seniors’ Tax Issues, Fact Sheet 6” from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Social Security income is taxed by the State of Minnesota the same way it is taxed on your federal return. If your only income is Social Security, you do not have to file an income tax return. If you have questions about whether your Social Security income is taxable, go to the Internal Revenue Service’s website at www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. You can also find answers from a tax professional and/or a local tax advice clinic. To find a tax advice clinic in your area, call 211. During Feb. 15-April 15, you can call the Minnesota Department of Revenue at 651-297-3724 or 1-800-657-3989 or visit their website at www.revenue.state.mn.us to get a list of locations of tax clinics within your zip code area.
If you are a Minnesota resident and you are required to file a federal income tax return, you must also file Minnesota Form M1, the Individual Income Tax Return. When you file your Form M1, you use the same filing status that you use to file your federal tax return.
If you are not required to file a federal return, then you do not have to file a Minnesota return. However, if Minnesota taxes were withheld from your income or you paid an estimated tax, in order to request a refund, you must file Form M1.
Now that you are retired and have a different filing status, you may want to speak to a tax professional to see if you qualify for any new refunds or credits.
There are credits for homeowners, renters, charitable contributions over $500, long term care insurance premiums, etc.
There is also a credit called the Minnesota Dependent Care credit. This is not only for those with minor children, but it is also available to those with a disabled spouse or disabled dependent that has lived with you for more than half the calendar year.
Let’s switch gears to property taxes. If you can’t afford to pay your property taxes now that your income has changed, there is help. As a senior, 65 or older, you might qualify for the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program. If you meet the eligibility requirements of this program, your portion of your property tax payment will be no more than 3 percent of your household income each year.
The state will loan you the remaining amount — the deferred tax — and the state pays it directly to the county you live in. If you move or pass away, you or your estate then must pay the deferred tax, plus interest, back to the state. Also, any property tax refunds or other refunds will be applied to the deferred property tax amount. If you participate in the deferral program, a tax lien will be placed on your property. You, or your heirs, will need to repay the deferred amount before you can transfer title of the property.
This column is written by the Senior Citizens’ Law Project. It is not meant to give complete answers to individual questions. If you are 60 years of age or older and live within the Minnesota Arrowhead Region, you may contact us with questions for legal help by writing to: Senior Citizens’ Law Project, Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, 302 Ordean Bldg., Duluth, MN 55802. Include a phone number and return address. To view previous articles, go to: www.lasnem.org.
Darold John Promersberger
Memorial services for Darold John Promersberger, 83, formerly of Littlefork, Minn., who died Dec. 28, 2014, were conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, March 6, 2015, at Littlefork Lutheran Church, Littlefork.
Officiating was the Rev. Andy Berry with music by grandchildren, Erin DeRubeis, Kallie Iverson and Dan Iverson.
Readings were given by grandchildren, Katie Promersberger and April Peterson.
Honorary pallbearers were Wayne George, Neil DeLack, Glenn Aasland, Don Bratten, Duane Bratten, LeRoy Dahl, Gary Elsom and Lynn Maker.
Interment will be at Oakley Cemetery, Littlefork.
Arrangements were with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
Darlene Joy Promersberger Lueders
Funeral services for Darlene Joy Promersberger Lueders, 88, of Littlefork, Minn., who died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, were conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Littlefork Lutheran Church, Littlefork.
Officiating was the Rev. Andy Berry with music by Kathy Siltman and Linda Nordlund.
Casketbearers were Jon Promersberger, Bob Promersberger, Dale Promersberger, Marty Promersberger, Wally Treat and Shane Ziemba.
Interment will take place at Oakley Cemetery, Littlefork.
Arrangements were with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
One of the joys of gardening is starting your own seeds. You get a greater choice of varieties, get to experiment a little, and sometimes save money. After receiving your seed orders, now is the time to get excited! Before you fill up the cell packs or peat pots, take a little time to review the basics. If you have access to the Internet, look at the U of M article “Seed Starting 101” at http://www.extension.umn.edu.
If you have a place to start seeds, great. If you are new to gardening or want to expand, simple utility shelves fitted with fluorescent workshop lights work fine. Hang the lights on a light chain so you can adjust the distance to the seedlings as they germinate and grow. The sides can be draped with plastic to retain some moisture and heat.
Although almost any container will work to start seeds, lightweight cell-packs are preferred because they are easy to clean, take less space, are relatively inexpensive, fit the larger trays, and can be sized to the plant you are starting. More important than the container is the medium you start the seeds in. While some like to use potting mix, it is usually too heavy for seedlings. A better choice is a soil-less starter mix that is also sterile. This is available at garden centers in several sizes.
Starting your own plants is all about timing. Plan starting based on how large the seedlings need to be when they are ready to set out. If you are setting out plants directly into the garden or flower beds, the danger of frost here lasts until the middle to end of May (with a few June frosts).
If you are setting into a covered bed, hot frame or row cover, sometimes you can set out much earlier. Begonias and pansies need 12 weeks or more from germination while tomatoes need six weeks and squash three or four. It is best to follow directions on seed packets or check out the web site mentioned at the end of this article.
Germination times vary greatly for different seeds and seeds need different treatments to aid in germination. Some need to be dampened and placed in the refrigerator or freezer to simulate a cold season before they will germinate. This is called stratification. Other seeds need to be nicked or sanded to break the hard covering before they will germinate. This is called scarification. Some are planted dry while others like to be soaked in water before planting.
Seeds like lettuce need light to germinate while others germinate in the dark so planting depth is very important for some. Good seed companies include this information on the packet. Otherwise find some more in-depth information online or in a good seed starting book.
Once your seedlings are up, there are four things they need — consistent moisture but not too much, light for 12-14 hours a day, a little fertilizer if you use a soil-less mix, and some air movement to help prevent “damping off” which is a fungal infection of the plants. Cleanliness goes a long way in preventing this and other diseases. To make room for growth, some plants need to be transplanted several times before going out while others like squash do not like to be disturbed. I always start my own onions and have to trim them several times before planting out.
Also, check out the latest Yard and Garden News at www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/YGLNews. There are also many great books on seed starting and growing.
