Day: January 18, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate has confirmed Rob Dixon and Anna Hui as directors of two departments that are critical to the future of the state’s economy. Dixon will serve as director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and Hui is now the director of the Missouri Department of Labor. Both have led their respective departments since they were appointed to their jobs by Gov. Eric Greitens last year. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly supports the Senate’s action to confirm both leaders.

“Rob Dixon will be a strong asset to the state as director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. He is a proven professional who knows how to attract jobs and business investment. Since his appointment, Dixon has already brought a new level of energy, leadership and creativity to economic development in Missouri,” said Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO. “Dixon also understands the importance of having a statewide strategic plan for growth and he supports the Missouri Chamber’s work on the Missouri 2030 plan. We look forward to collaborating with Dixon to find ways to improve Missouri’s competitiveness, build a stronger workforce and unite the business community on big ideas that have the potential to further improve the outlook for our state’s economy.”

The Missouri Chamber looks forward to working with Hui on initiatives to help improve the state’s workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance systems.

“Anna Hui is already working to bring the business and labor communities together to work on issues that benefit all Missourians. She has the right background to help find positive solutions to some of the challenges facing the labor department today, including reforming our state’s workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance systems,” said Mehan. “We thank the Senate for their quick work to confirm both Dixon and Hui. We look forward to working with both leaders and we wish them the best.”

(COLUMBIA, MO) — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering grants for promoting public awareness and implementation of Farm Bill conservation activities.

State Conservationist J.R. Flores said $200,000 is available in Missouri for partners who can help make farmers, ranchers and specialty crop growers aware of NRCS programs. Areas of emphasis for the grants include: outreach workshops and conferences; soil health workshops and field days; organic and specialty crop workshops; and drainage and water management workshops.

“NRCS is looking for partners who will use these grant funds to educate Missouri’s farm community, conservation organizations, other natural resource agencies, private landowners and other citizens about opportunities made possible by the Farm Bill,” Flores said.

The full announcement and application instructions are available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=300155

Applications must be received by 4 p.m. February 23. A question-and-answer teleconference for potential applicants will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 30. Participants can join the teleconference by calling 1-888-844-9904 and entering access code 4847718. For more information about the grant announcement and the application process, contact Karen Brinkman at Karen.Brinkman@mo.usda.gov or 573-876-0909.

Care Connection for Aging Services will join the celebration of Heart Month during February with weekly special events in all 23 locations to remind people of the importance of a healthy heart.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, with one in four deaths attributed to it, according to the American Heart Association. But, many times, heart disease can be prevented or managed with lifestyle changes.

“Raising awareness and providing education on how to reduce these risks is so important, especially for our seniors,” said Care Connection Lifestyles Specialist Samantha Schnell. “There are simple changes you can make in your day-to-day life that can have a great impact and reduce the risk of heart disease.”

The Care Connection Heart Month programs will emphasize those changes.

Events kick off Feb. 2 with participation in the national “Wear Red Day,” when staff members and participants will be turning our 22 centers and central office red to show support for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

Many of our locations will participate in Heart Healthy Pledge Day, when seniors will be asked to pledge to take one simple step toward heart health and take a selfie with the written pledge. Care Connection and its centers will share those photos on their Facebook pages. The pledges also may be posted at the center.

“These pledges can be to “Walk 30 minutes a day,” “Monitor my blood pressure” or “Eat more vegetables,” Schnell said. “Even small changes add up.”

The agency will celebrate a Heart Healthy Meal Day on Feb. 15 by serving garlic lime shrimp with pasta, herb roasted chicken, broccoli, honey carrots, stewed tomatoes and blushed pears at its centers.

In most locations on Feb. 23, “Get up and Get Moving Day” will feature simple activities to illustrate to seniors that they can be involved in a fun physical activity.

Each of these activities will include easy tips and tricks that seniors can use all year round to improve their heart health.

 

Our Centers:

Bates County:
Butler Senior Center
611 W. Mill St.
Butler, Mo. 64730

660-679-5830

 

Kern Center
613 E. Park Avenue
Rich Hill, Mo. 64779

417-395-2225

 

Cedar County:
El Dorado Springs Senior Center
604 S. Forest
E Dorado Springs, Mo. 64744

417-876-5574

 

Korth Center
309 W. Englewood
Stockton, Mo. 65785

417-276-5306

 

Henry County:
Clinton Senior Center
970 E. Sedalia
Clinton, Mo. 64735

660-885-3482

 

Windsor Senior Center
201 S. Main
Windsor, Mo. 65360

660-647-3224

 

Johnson County:
Holden Senior Center
204 W. Second St.
Holden, Mo. 64040

816-732-5757

 

Warrensburg Senior Center
445 E. Gay, Suite 128
Warrensburg, Mo. 64093

660-747-2624

 

Care Connection Central Office
106 W. Young St.
Warrensburg, Mo. 64093

660-747-3107

 

St. Clair County:
Rives Crossing Life Center
5215 Business Highway 13 NE
Osceola, Mo. 64776

417-646-8292

 

Vernon County:
Neal Center
301 N. Main
Nevada, Mo. 64772

417-667-5847

 

 

 

Care Connection for Aging Services once again will offer seniors help filing federal and state income tax returns as well as the Missouri Property Tax Credit application.

The Senior Tax Assistance Program will be offered by appointment during tax season at 13 senior centers, according to Kathy Ray-Smith, who directs the program for Care Connection.

“We can help seniors get tax assistance at no cost to them,” Ray-Smith said. “This program serves the seniors, and it further serves the community because of the refunds seniors get back. They get more back in their pocket because they don’t have to pay a preparer. That money is free and clear for them to use in their own communities.”

Seniors 60 and older are eligible for free tax assistance, including help in electronically filing their federal and state income tax returns and their “Circuit Breaker” Missouri Property Tax Credit application.

The Legislature considered changes to the Circuit Breaker tax credit last year, but none were made,  Kathy Ray-Smith said, so the credit applies to home renters and owners just as it did a year ago.

“Because we count on volunteers for the program’s operation, we cannot offer the tax help in every center,” Ray-Smith said. “However, our hope is that all seniors in our 13-county service area will be able to find a center close enough to them to get the income tax help they need.”

The free service is open to all seniors; however, Ray-Smith suggests that taxpayers who have had sales of stocks, bonds or property in the past year may want to seek the services of a paid preparer.

Participants need to bring photo identification, proof of Social Security numbers, and 2016 and 2017 tax documents. People who are applying for a Missouri Property Tax Credit need to provide a receipt for paid property tax or a receipt for total rent paid. The property tax rebate may be applied retroactively for three years.

Care managers in all of Care Connection’s service area can help seniors with the Missouri Property Tax Credit application by appointment year round.

Care Connection for Aging Services, an area agency on aging, operates 23 locations in West Central Missouri. The agency’s mission is to provide resources and services that empower people to create healthy aging experiences. The agency’s service area includes the counties of Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline, St. Clair and Vernon.

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Care Connection for Aging Services Senior Center TCE Tax Schedule for 2018

E-File Sites can process Federal, State, and MOPTC tax returns

Clinton Senior Center – Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon E-File Site; starting Feb. 6, for appointment, call 660-885-3482

Cole Camp Senior Center – Thursdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. E-File Site; starting Feb. 8; for appointment, call 660-668-2352.

El Dorado Springs Senior Center – Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MOPTC (Circuit Breaker only); starting Feb. 6; for appointment, call 417-876-5574.

Higginsville Senior Center – Mondays and Fridays 9 a.m. to noon E-File Site; starting  Feb. 19 to March 16; for appointment, call 660-584-7040.

Holden Senior Center – Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon E-File Site; starting Feb. 21 to March 16; for appointment, call 816-732-5757.

Marshall Senior Center – Wednesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. MOPTC (Circuit Breakers Only); starting Feb. 7, for appointment, call 660-886-9888.

St Clair County Courthouse – Thursdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MOPTC (Circuit Breaker only); starting Feb. 8; for appointment, call 417-646-2449.

Sedalia Senior Center – Mondays  and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MOPTC (Circuit Breakers Only); starting Feb. 5 for appointment, call 660-826-0713.

Korth Senior Center – Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon MOPTC (Circuit Breaker Only); starting Feb. 6; for appointment, call 417-276-5306

Warrensburg Senior Center – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9 a.m. to noon; E-File site; starting Feb. 5; for appointment, call 660-747-2624

Warsaw Senior Center – Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. E-File Site; starting Feb. 5; for appointment, call 660-438-3300.

McCarty Senior Center – Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. E-File Site

and Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MOPTC (Circuit Breaker only); starting Feb. 5;  for appointment, call 417-282-6100.

Windsor Senior Center – Mondays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. E-File site; MOPTC (Circuit Breaker) Feb. 5 through March 29. For appointment, call 660-647-3224.