February 24, 2015 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dave Says: It might have been the winter doldrums that did it. You can never be sure of these things. It’s just that … well, Doc is one of those guys who can’t stand to see anyone bored. He claims it’s bad for their inner chemistry, and since he has more initials after his name than anyone else in town, we tend to listen to him. When it happened, we in the inner circle of the World Dilemma Think Tank down at the Mule Barn truck stop thought back on what Doc had said a year ago when the temperature dropped, along with everyone’s spirits. “In weather like this,” Doc pronounced, stirring sugar into his cup, “a real American would come up with a great hoax.” Those of us sitting at the philosophy counter that morning just nodded, even though we didn’t have a clue. No one wanted to admit it, you see. When the Valley Weekly Miracle hit the street yesterday, we bought one to see how much the editor dared to print, as always, but there in the classifieds was this: “LOST – One gray squirrel, fluffy tail, two years old. Answers to “Chipper.” $5.25 reward. Call Doc.” The paper was passed down the counter and we all looked at Doc after we read it. He was smirking as only Doc can smirk. “Doc,” Steve said, tentatively, “would this be the same imaginary squirrel that was kidnapped and held for ransom last year?” “The very same,” Doc said. “I named him Chipper.” “But he’s imaginary, right?” “The very best kind.” “Why?” “Imaginary squirrels don’t bite, don’t have to be fed, and you never have to clean up after them,” he said. “And a real squirrel will eat the leg off a coffee table.” He grinned. “Besides, I’ve always wanted an imaginary squirrel.” After we laughed, Dud said, “And what if someone finds a squirrel and brings him to you?” “Dudley,” he said, “I figure it’s worth $5.25 to get a squirrel, which would be hibernating this time of year, of course, and then to turn it loose. Besides, I’ll make more money than that just stitching up the squirrel catcher’s hand.” -------------Brought to you by Saddle Up: A Cowboy Guide to Writing by Slim Randles. Now available as a Kindle book on Amazon.com. CDL A Drivers WAnteD CDL “A” COMPANY DRIVERS Needed for Wurtele Heavy Equipment Hauling, in Norfolk. Lowboy, RGN, and Heavy Haul Experience Required Local and Long Distance Runs Very Competitive Wage and Benefits Paid Vacation and Holidays Keep Flood Insurance? Dear Dave, I’m debt-free except for my home, and I’ll have that paid off in about 12 months. I currently make $60,000 a year and live in an area of Florida that is designated a flood plain, because a river that empties into Tampa Bay runs behind my home. Currently, I’m paying $1,070 a month for flood insurance. My house is worth $325,000, and water has only come up into the yard twice in over 20 years. Since I’m doing pretty well financially, do you think I need to keep my flood insurance policy? Trudy Dear Trudy, From what you’ve told me about the history of your property, it sounds like your biggest concern might be if a hurricane caused a backwash in your area. 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Right now, they’re trying to bully you. They may eventually garnish your paychecks, but I think you can still work out something with these guys. You’ll have to repay the loan, and probably the interest and some of the late charges, but $16,000 is a bunch of crap. Don’t run out and get another loan to pay it, but don’t let yourself be blackmailed, either. You’ve made a mess by ignoring this for so long, so now you’ll have to save every penny you can and start sending them substantial amounts of money each month. Trust me, they’ll take your payments and cash the checks. Hopefully, you can settle on a reasonable repayment structure and have this thing killed off in a couple of years. —Dave Funds For Financing Beginning Farmers Available PIERRE — The South Dakota Value Added Finance Authority (VAFA) announces tax-exempt bonds are available for qualifying beginning farmers. Bond purchasers can potentially save thousands of dollars in federal taxes by investing in a beginning farmer. The Beginning Farmer Bond program through the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) is available for eligible beginning farmers to purchase agricultural land at lower interest rates. “To be eligible for the program, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, a resident of South Dakota, have a net worth under $400,000 and own less acres than 30 percent of the county median,” says Terri LaBrie, SDDA finance administrator. “The limit on a beginning farmer bond is $517,700.” Typically, the Beginning Farmer Bond program works through a local lender; however, if retiring farmers are interested in passing on their land to a beginner farmer, the interest off that contract sale is federally tax exempt providing substantial savings to the seller. Because federal regulations prohibit this type of transaction with closely related parties such as parents or grandparents, a third party lender is required in those cases. “The bond program is a great way for a beginning farmer to buy land; however, it’s also advantageous for a retiring farmer that would be willing to enter into a contract for deed with that beginning farmer or an individual investor looking to help finance a beginning farmer,” says LaBrie. The SDDA administers the Beginning Farmer Bond program through VAFA. The board meets monthly and reviews the applications for the program and issues the bonds for approved projects. Board members include: Bob Hull, Sisseton; Mark Gross, Sioux Falls; Bill Hansen, Centerville; Chuck Jepson, Ft. Pierre; Jim Doolittle, Belle Fourche; Marcia Hendrickson, Chancellor; and Nathan Jensen, Beresford. For information on the financial programs offered through SDDA, please contact one of the board members or Terri LaBrie, SDDA finance administrator at 605.773.5436 or terri. labrie@state.sd.us.