Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News

AARP seeks volunteers for tax prep work

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 10/25/2024 - 2:27pm

Tax filing season may be months away, but AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sites in cities across Wisconsin are already seeking volunteers who want to serve their community by becoming tax preparers for the program.

Tax-Aide focuses on serving older adults with low to moderate income and helps them secure tax refunds, according to Tax-Aide Prospective Volunteer Specialist Richard Blackburn. Volunteers provide free tax preparation and filing services to taxpayers, as well as other services.

DMV still available to provide voter identification

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 10/25/2024 - 2:27pm

Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is reminding citizens to check and be sure that they have the proper identification needed to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Stockbridge-Munsee swear in new council members

Published by kjpasson on Fri, 10/25/2024 - 12:38pm

The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans swore in the recently elected members of the tribal council Oct. 21, with several of them vowing to do a better job of listening to the people and working on catering to their needs.

William Miller took his spot as the tribe’s vice president after winning in the Oct. 12 tribal election, getting 254 votes to defeat Jolene Bowman, who received 157 votes.

Williams honored for service to agriculture

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 12:14pm

Cows have been Amanda Williams’ passion since childhood, so it’s only natural they are part of her career path.

Today, she works in the feed section of the ag industry as an independent dairy nutritionist with a group of 15 other consultants. She has been with the group for three years, traveling to farms throughout northeastern Wisconsin.

Museum exhibit highlights artistry of Ho-Chunk baskets

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:37am

A new exhibit on display at the Museum of Wisconsin Art gives visitors a close-up look at the history and enduring tradition of Ho-Chunk basketmaking.

Ho-Chunk people have been weaving baskets from the wood of black ash trees, which are native to the Great Lakes region, since at least the 1820s. A story passed down through generations explains that a Ho-Chunk woman had a dream where a voice guided her to a black ash tree and instructed her to cut strips of wood and weave them together.

Verizon Communications purchases Frontier

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:17am

Farewell, Frontier internet and phone service.

Last month, Verizon Communications announced plans to buy the, to put it mildly, widely-disliked company and its thousands of miles of copper and fiber optic telecommunication lines last month for $20 billion.

Frontier Communications has more than 130,000 customers in Wisconsin, many of them rural, and millions nationwide.

The question now is how they will be affected.

Early morning

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:07am

Steps can be taken to stop cyberattacks

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:03am

The Stephenson National Bank and Trust (SNBT) and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are reminding customers of practical steps to help protect their financial data and quickly recover in the event of a data incident.

Almost three quarters (74%) of cybersecurity incidents can be attributed to human error. More than half (56%) of Americans wouldn’t know the proper steps to take after an incident.

Social Security announces COLA adjustment for 2025

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:01am

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social Security Administration has announced.

On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January. Over the last decade, the cost-of-living adjustment increase has averaged about 2.6%. The COLA was 3.2% in 2024.

Scammers target college students seeking jobs

Published by kjpasson on Thu, 10/24/2024 - 10:00am

Many college students seek flexible, part-time employment to help cover school expenses.

Finding a job can be challenging, and students may feel pressure to find work quickly. If this situation describes you or a student in your life, watch out for scams. BBB Scam Tracker has gotten reports of employment scams impersonating professors and university departments.