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Show Page 4 The Gunnison Valley Gazette The Outdoor Report Swans stopping in Utah If you drew a permit to hunt tundra swans in Utah, you may want to grab your gun and head to the marsh. Tom Aldrich counted 28,271 swans in marshes along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake during a survey flown on November 3. On Oct. 28, he counted 27,361 swans. “Swans should continue to migrate into Utah this fall, but the storms we’re having could also push some birds out,” says Aldrich, migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “If you have a swan permit, right now is a great time to head to the marsh.” Most of the swans Aldrich spotted on the morning and afternoon of Nov. 3 were on Unit one at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. He saw more than 23,000 swans on the unit. “You can’t hunt on Unit 1, but the swans that are on the unit may fly over units 2, 1A, 3A and 3B, which are open to hunting,” Aldrich says. The DWR usually flies its weekly swan surveys on Tuesday mornings. You can stay updated on where the swans are by logging onto the DWR’s Web site at www. wildlife.utah.gov/waterfowl/swan/ swansurvey.php. Utah’s swan hunting season ends Dec. 14. Only those who Swan hunters are reminded about requirements that are designed to help the DWR and the USFWS obtain an accurate count of the number of trumpeter swans that are accidentally taken by hunters. Within 72 hours of taking a swan, you must take your bird to a DWR office, or the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, so it can be examined and measured. You must also return your harvest questionnaire within 10 days after the season closes, even if you don’t hunt swans or take a swan. If you don’t do these things, you’ll have to pay a $50 late fee to apply for a swan permit in 2009. Applications for swan hunting permits for 2009 will be accepted next September. Three changes await those who apply next year: - You and up to three of your family or friends can apply for permits together as a group. - If you apply for a 2009 swan hunting permit, but you don’t draw one, you’ll receive a preference point. If you apply for a swan permit again in 2010, this point will help ensure that your application is among the first drawn for a permit. - To give young hunters a better chance at drawing a permit, 15 percent of the swan hunting permits for 2009 will be set aside for hunters who are 15 years of age or younger when the 2009 swan hunt opens. drew a swan hunting permit earlier this fall can hunt swans. If you’re one of the 2,000 hunters who drew a permit, Aldrich encourages you to spend time watching the swans and learning their flight patterns. Tundra swans are very consistent in the times of day they fly and the routes they take. “If you learn these patterns, you’ll up your chance for success,” Aldrich says. Factors that can change a swan’s flight pattern include hunting pressure, changes in the weather and the availability of food. Ice-up is another thing to watch for. As the water starts to freeze, swans fly more as they search for areas that still have open water. “Being in the marsh during this time can also increase your chance of taking a swan,” Aldrich says. Aldrich reminds hunters that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed all of the areas north of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and north of Forest Street (the road leading from Brigham City to the refuge) to tundra swan hunting. “The USFWS has restricted tundra swan hunting in this area to try and lessen the number of trumpeter swans that hunters take,” Aldrich says. “Compared to tundra swans, trumpeter swans are much less abundant.” The Outdoor Report is Sponsored by: Thursday, November 13, 2008 USDA Rural Development reduces interest rate on home mortgages The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development recently announced a decrease in the home mortgage interest rate for its Section 502 Homeownership Direct Loan Program. Effective November 1, 2008, the new interest rate has been reduced to 5.375 percent, down from the 5.750 percent rate. This rate decrease makes this a good time for limited-income families to purchase a home through the USDA Rural Development program. The Section 502 direct loan program is available to eligible very-low and low income households to purchase an existing home, purchase a site and construct a dwelling, or purchase a newly constructed dwelling in rural areas. Financing under this program is available for up to 100 percent loan-to-value, and no down payment is required. Eligibility is based on household size and income. Applicants must have acceptable credit histories, and debt-to income ratios. Depending on household incomes, mortgage payments may be subsidized to as low as 1 percent interest rate. To view rural eligibility requirements and/or the area’s income limits, visit http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda. gov or contact the USDA Rural Development local office in Manti at 435-835-4111 x11, which serves, Millard, Sanpete and Juab counties. Contact: Jerolyn Smith @ 435-835-4111 x12 Into all the World 528-5001 Hwy 89 Northeast of Gunnison Open Monday - Saturday The First Word and Last Name in Log Homes! Think Satterwhite for Log Homes, Rough Lumber, Timbers, Animal Bedding and Firewood Elder Lee Sorensen (far right) is enjoying serving in the Raleigh North Carolina mission. Lee is the son of Sherwin and Debbie Sorensen and the grandson of Irma Sorensen. Theall Scouting News is Sponsored by Into the World is sponsored by ACE Paints Sporting Goods Whirpool Appliances It’s HEAT Season time The Six Counties HEAT workers will be at the following Senior Citizen Centers on the following day and times to take HEAT applications. Please call the centers to schedule an appointment with them: Mt. Pleasant Senior Center • November 19 from 9 am to 1 pm • 835-2831 Ephraim Senior Center • December 3 from 10 am to 12 noon • 283-6310 You will need to bring the following to your appointment: • Picture ID for all in the family (18 and older) • Social Security Cards for all in the family • Proof of all income for all family members (18 and over) • Light Bill for previous month • Heat Bill for previous month • Medical expenses paid for previous month (bills, receipts, etc.) • Birth Certificate for youngest child under 6 years of age (if applicable) The HEAT Season runs from November 2008 through April 2009. Please call the Manti Six Counties Office to schedule regular HEAT appointments at 835-2831. G•I•C AUTO SALES • ‘07 Impala Flex Fuel $12,500 • ‘07 Sliver Mazda 6 $14,777 - 30,000 miles • ‘07 White Ford F150 - $10,5000 - 3,500 miles • ‘07 Mercury Milan $15,300 • ‘08 Dodge Diesel 4x4 Only $31,500 • 8,250 miles Loaded with lots of extras! Gold 2007 Chevy Malibu LS 28,000 Miles Only $11,200 Green 1996 Blazer Only $2,400 Don’t forget to come in and register for the $1000 Do It Best Giveaway! If we don’t have it, we can find it! Stop in and tell us what you’re looking for! Gunnison Implement Co. 51 W 200 N • Gunnison 435-528-7272 528-7513 435 South Main • Gunnison Submitted by DARIN FRANDSEN Tax laws change all the time-- and these changes can have a big impact on your investments. But if you have some inkling of these changes in advance, you may be able to make decisions that can help you stay on track toward achieving your financial goals. Such is the case with dividend-paying stocks. Until a few years ago, dividends were taxed at your personal income tax rate. But changes in tax laws resulted in a 15 percent tax rate on dividends for most people. This rate was set to expire in 2008, but it has been extended until the end of 2010. At that point, dividends will again be taxed at your individual tax rate, which currently could be as high as 35%. Of course, things can change. As an alternative to taxing dividends at an individual’s income tax rate, lawmakers could decide to impose a higher fixed rate than the current 15 percent. At this point-- and maybe at any point-- no one can predict these things. Nonetheless, as you prepare your investment strategy, you may want to factor in the possibility that, in the near future, dividends will be taxed at a higher rate than they are now. If this happens, should you still consider adding dividend-paying stocks to your portfolio? To answer that question, you’ll want to assess the benefits that dividend-paying stocks may offer, regardless of how they are taxed. Here are a few of them: • Potential for rising income - Some stocks have paid - and increased - dividends for many years. So, if you’re looking for a possible source of rising income that can help you combat the effects of inflation, you might want to consider these types of stocks. (Keep in mind, though, that companies may decrease or discontinue dividends at any time without notice.) • Stability during market turmoil- As you are no doubt aware, the stock market has gone through some difficult times for much of 2008. Generally speaking, though, dividendpaying stocks are less volatile than those stocks that don’t pay dividends. Furthermore, historically in down markets, dividend-paying stocks tend to out perform non-dividend-paying stocks, although past performances is not an indication of future results. • Ownership of quality companies - Dividend-paying stocks usually represent willrun businesses that seek to reward their investors. In fact, these are the companies that actually have money to pay the dividends. And despite the many “fads” you can find in the investment world, investing in quality companies never goes out of style. • Ability to increase ownership shares - If you consistently reinvest your dividends, you’ll boost the number of shares you own. This can be particularly beneficial when the market recovers and stock prices rise. If you invest in dividendpaying stocks, it would be advantageous if the tax rate were to stay at its current 15 percent level. But even if the tax rate were to rise, you’ve got plenty of good reasons to consider adding these types of stocks to your portfolio - so give them some serious consideration. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. IF A COMPANY YOU OWN IS IN THE HEADLINES ASK YOURSELF IF IT SHOULD BE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO. Snap reactions to headlines aren’t usually good ways to plan for your future. But when a stock you own is in the news, you may need some advice. Should you buy additional shares, sell or simply maintain the status quo? Edward Jones can help. We spend time getting to know you and your financial goals so we can help you create and implement a strategy designed to achieve them. To learn our perspective on whether a particular stock makes sense for you, call or visit your local financial advisor to schedule a complimentary portfolio review. Darin K Frandsen Financial Advisor . St George, UT 84770 435-652-3558 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC |
