Tuttle honored at MLK celebration
Also, United Way tax prep begins; Ivy Tech offers skills for managers
This article is brought to you by Turning Point System of Care. Our Recovery Stabilization Center is open around the clock with the support you need. Whether you have an emergency or just need someone to talk to, we're here for you 24/7! 👥
Walk-ins are always welcome. Come visit us and let's start your journey towards recovery together. ♥️
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission hosted the State of Indiana’s 33rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at 12:00pm EST at the Indiana Statehouse.
During the event Howard County resident and Vice Chair of the American Indian Center of Indiana, Inc., Sally Tuttle was presented with the Humanitarian Award for her service.
The program featured keynote speaker Dr. Russell Ledet, M.D./Ph.D. and included an awards presentation honoring four Hoosiers who have worked diligently to improve their communities in a manner that exemplifies the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as two teenagers from Gary who are the youngest scholars in the state accepted into degree-track, four-year university programs.
Governor Eric J. Holcomb presented the Sagamore of the Wabash Award to Joe Jordan of the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne for his distinguished service to the State of Indiana.
The other 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration Award Recipients are as follows:
Reverend Charles Williams Award: Kendra Nowell, CEO of Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE)
Sam Jones Award: Shontrai Irving, Clinical Associate Professor of Business Law, Purdue University Northwest
United Way begins free tax preparation
The United Way serving Howard and Tipton Counties will begin offering free tax preparation services to the community on Jan. 29. According to United Way Director of Operations Cheryl Graham, this is the 14th year for the service.
“We will serve more than 700 households by preparing their taxes and bring in more than $800,000 in tax refunds to our community,” said Graham. “The do-it-yourself online option for families with income up to $76,000 can use preparation software free of charge, so there is no need to buy a software package to complete taxes.”
The tax preparation service uses IRS-certified tax preparers and guarantees you will receive 100 percent of your refund, with no fees or interest. The United Way’s tax preparers will also e-file your return and provide free Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit screenings.
Even better, you don’t have to spend hours figuring out the tax returns. Starting Jan. 29, pick up a packet which has instructions on what information needs to be provided. Complete the forms in the packet and return it to any of the sites listed below.
Kokomo Howard County Public Library Downtown, 220 N. Union St.
Kokomo Howard County Public Library South, 1755 E. Center Road
Kokomo Howard County Public Library Russiaville, 305 Mesa Dr.
Greentown Public Library, 421 S. Harrison St.
Tipton Public Library, 127 E. Madison St.
If you are unable to complete the forms in the packet, please call 765-450-7619, and arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs.
Once your packet is received, if all necessary information has been provided, your taxes will be completed. A tax review appointment will be scheduled to review your returns with you.
Free tax preparation services are not available if, in 2023, you owned or sold rental property, sold a business, had more than $10,000 in business expenses, or bought and sold stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. This service is available for households earning less than $66,000.
If you prefer to complete your taxes yourself and have a household income of less than $60,000, you can use a free, online tax preparation tool to file your taxes from your couch. Visit www.myfreetaxes.com to learn more about this free service.
For additional information, call 765-450-7619 or email freetaxprep@unitedwayhoco.org .
Ivy Tech offers Essential Skills for Managers
Ivy Tech Community College is offering a one-day, instructor-led, training course to prepare leaders for supervisory positions in the workplace. The course, Essential Skills for Managers, will be offered on Thursday, Jan. 25, at Ivy Tech’s Logansport campus, 1 Ivy Tech Drive.
The focus of this class is to provide a foundational base of skills for all managers using research-based best practices. Essential Skills for Managers exposes and trains supervisors to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully manage others.
The class objectives intend to help supervisors utilize tools and skills to effectively manage their teams and develop trusting and respectful relationships with their staff. In-class work will include identifying ways to decrease the escalation of problems or issues supervisors may have while providing tools to better utilize a Strengths Based Leadership Approach to understand preferences in communication and conflict management. Supervisors will learn to diagnose situations and identify appropriate leadership styles and strategies using the Situational Leadership model.
The class is set to go from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The $155 fee includes class materials, and a 45-minute working lunch is provided.
To register for the Essential Skills for Managers class or for more information, contact Bonnie Devers, program manager for Ivy+ Career Link at Ivy Tech Kokomo, at bdevers3@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5497.