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• State CPAs have advice on economic stimulus payments
• Recount continues, Ellsworth girls' no longer co-champs in MBC track

By RiverTown Staff

Whether by check or direct deposit, Wisconsinites are getting their economic stimulus payments, and the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accoutants has some advice on what to do with the cash.

"The rebate is free money from the government. There are no strings attached to the money, so the choice of how to spend it is up to the taxpayer," said Katie Rivett, CPA, assurance senior manager with Clifton Gunderson LLP.

"However, taxpayers should think about their options before they spend it," she added.

The Internal Revenue Service began issuing the payments in early May to all U.S. citizens who filed income taxes.

According to the IRS Web site, the maximum payment ranges from $600 for singles to $1,200 for married couples.

Parents will also get around $300 for each qualifying child.

Taxpayers can find out what they'll get back by using the payment calculator on the IRS Web site (www.irs.gov).

The WICPA suggests that individuals who get a rebate should invest the money in their 401(K) or another savings program.

They also suggest that the money be used to build an emergency fund.

The group also suggests that Wisconsinites pay down debt such as a credit card which normally carries a high interest rate.

"Your minimum monthly payment may include a large amount of interest," Rivett said.

"Use your rebate check to pay off your balance or bring it down so you are not paying so much in finance charges each month," she suggested.

Making an additional mortgage payment is another idea from the group.

According to WICPA, an extra mortgage payment goes toward paying down the principle balance of the mortgage, thereby shortening the length of the loan.

Another idea from the group is to use the money for a home improvement which, according to the group, will help increase the home's resale value.

A spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said that there haven't been any major scams reported in the state involving the economic stimulus payments.

"However, there are some out there," said Glen Loyd.

"The IRS says that people are receiving calls and e-mails from individuals who say they are from the IRS asking about the economic stimulus payments and then asking for personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and other personal information," he added.

Loyd said that the IRS never contacts individuals by telephone, but sends out a letter first and that individuals should be suspicious anytime they receive a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the government.

ELLSWORTH - After going through the morning believing they had won a co-championship with Osceola in the Middle Border Conference girls' track and field meet, a scoring mistake and a official ruling from the WIAA took away the points Ellsworth thought it had secured after a recount Wednesday. Osceola is a again the sole conference champion as they were Tuesday at the end of meet.

The scoring error came in the shot put. Ellsworth's Amber Nugent threw an official 30 feet, two inches but the mark was record as 30 feet even. The mistake kept Nugent from tying for seventh with Amery's Anna Northway and supposedly gave her an extra half-point. But, conference rules in the shot put does not allow for ties. In case of a tie between two athletes, the next best throw is use to break such a ties and Northway had the better throw. Nugent still finishes in eighth place.

The ruling from the WIAA came in the 300-meter low hurdles. There was a three-way tie between Osceola's Amber Hogen, New Richmond's Katrina Ripley and Ellsworth's Shannon Campbell all at :53.20 seconds. Ellsworth officials thought Campbell should at least have gotten 1.5 points as Ripley and Hogen did. Especially when Hogen did not run in the same heat as Campbell and Ripley, who finished ahead of Campbell by mere inches in a photo finish. Somerset Brad Nemec asked the WIAA to rule on the procedure and their head official for track and field agreed with the initial ruling that did not give Campbell her points, which left the Panthers right back where they were on Tuesday evening.

"We've gone through such a wide range of emotions the past 48 hours. it's been pretty greuling." Ellsworth head coach Craig Olson said. "Regardless of what the final score is, it will not take away from all the outstanding performances we had Tuesday. It's just unfortunate there were mistakes and misunderstandings that put everything up in the air for the past two days."

Ellsworth's Athletic Director Mark Stoesz has been working the phones extensively on the recount and said all Ellsworth was looking for was clarification.

"We didn't file a protest. We just wanted to know what the proper rulings were and procedures so that the meet was scored accurately for all involved." Stoesz said.

Ellsworth and Osceola will meet again Monday in the regional at Amery which begins at 3:30 p.m.

"Hopefully the outcome will not be in doubt in our favor." Olson said.