Daddy Warbucks

Are U simulated by the IRS stimulus yet?

There are lots of questions about the economic stimulus payment from George W. Bush & Co. that all us good taxpayers are supposed to get. You know, the check’s in the mail deal. Is this a federal plot to see who will take the bait. Is this a way that the government is getting all those “cash only” folks to step forward and sign up – so the IRS can know who and where they
are? Ooh.. The drama.  Ooh the conspiracy. There are a couple of stimulus payment questions that Daddy W. wrestled off the IRS website that may help you, gentle reader and gentle taxpayers, understand what’s going on.

Q. Is my Stimulus Payment taxable?
A. No. You will not owe tax on your payment when you file your 2008 federal income tax return. But you should keep a copy of the IRS letter you receive later this year listing the amount of your payment. In the event you do not qualify for the full amount this year but you do next year, you will need to have the letter as a record of the amount you previously received.

Q. Will the payment I receive in 2008 reduce my 2008 refund or increase the amount I owe for 2008?
A. No, the Stimulus Payment will not reduce your refund or increase the amount you owe when you file your 2008 return.

There you have it from the IRS.gov website. Don’t you trust the government? Doesn’t the IRS trust you, gentle taxpayer?

A LOSS
John G. Williams, founder of the University of Arkansas architecture program, died last week. Williams nurtured talent like his early student, Fay Jones and brought architects Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, Bruce Goff, Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, Buckminster Fuller and Edward Durell Stone to the UA to lecture and critique. He chronicled the early years of the architecture program in his 1984 book “The Curious and the Beautiful: A Memoir History of the Architecture Program at the University of Arkansas.” Williams was beloved by his students and peers as well as those in the community. He was a great man who will be greatly missed.

GARDEN IN THE OZARKS
Members of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks have been notified to save a date in May for their grand opening of the 2008 season. Woo Hoo. This is truly one of the best draws in the area for all ages. Haven’t joined up yet? Check them out.

OIL(ed) AGAIN
Get ready boys and girls, oil topped $112 a barrel recently. And it will top $4 a gallon at the pump this summer. So then $3 a gallon gas will look – well – it will look like a bargain.

MCFADDEN HOME?
Rumors were flying in the local real estate community recently as relatives of Darren McFadden were said to be shopping for a home-base for the future NFL running back here in NW Arkansas. Word on the street had it that Fayetteville was the first choice and the range $500,000 to $1 million for a crib for the running back and his posse.

FOGHORNS 2
The popular bar and wing store, Foghorns, has opened a location near Baum Stadium just off Razorback Road. The new location is expected to out pace the North College Ave. location just north of the old Malco theater.

SOUL FOOD LEAVES
So sad, but Wilma’s Restaurant out at the old Drake Field terminal, is gone. Closed up. Out of business in that location. And before anyone can mark its demise the city has conned someone else into taking the space with cheap rent and low, low walk in numbers. This marks the fourth tenant change in the last six years at the old airport. Now just ask yourself when was the last time you went out to the old Drake Field?

NEW FACES
There are some new faces at the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Bureau these days. Many of the announced jobs are moves within the
existing structure. Still this is a job funded with tax monies. So drop by and see if these public servants are getting the job done.

AMP AGAIN
Once again, the Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) was touting some BIG names for the summer outdoor music venue. But alas when the names were announced, well it was a little bit less than BIG names.
KC and the Sunshine Band? Pat Benatar? Ween? Daddy W. will wager that weather not withstanding that the Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs night on Oct. 3 may be their biggest draw.