Tax preparation clinic to be held Monday

A free legal education presentation of The Low Income Tax Clinic will be given in Grand Island Monday.

The class will begin at 6 p.m. at Legal Aid of Nebraska, 207 W. Third St.

The presentation is open to anyone wanting more information on the current income tax filing season, such as individual taxpayer identification numbers, earned income tax credit, dependency exemption, child tax credit, and where to get free tax preparation assist- ance.

Information on income tax debt, how family law issues can affect income taxes and what Legal Aid of Nebraska is about will also be available.

For more information contact the Grand Island Legal Aid office at 381-0517.

Grand Island Christian School plans annual soup supper

Grand Island Christian School has planned its fifth annual Soup Supper for 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

Organized by parent volunteers, this year's soup supper will feature chili, chicken noodle soup and cinnamon rolls.

Entertainment will include a slide show of students, volunteers and school events, both past and present.

For more information, check the school's Web site at www.gichristian.org.

Ord FFA wins RC&D youth award

The Ord FFA chapter won the Outstanding Youth Award at the Western RC&D Conference in Las Cruces, N.M.

The chapter was nominated for the award by the Loup Basin Resource Conservation and Development Council in Ord. Dan Hruza, president of the Loup Basin RC&D, accepted the award on the FFA's behalf.

Nebraska RC&Ds took all but one award at the conference. The Western RC&D Association is made up local RC&Ds from Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

Shelton fire department receives grant

The Shelton Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a $117,598 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The grant was awarded for operations and safety. The funds can be used for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

The grant was announced earlier this week by U.S. Congressional Rep. Adrian Smith.

Recycling, Litter programs awarded $1.6 million

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Director Mike Linder has announced the awarding of $1,614,715 in 68 grants for litter cleanup, recycling, and public education programs and activities. Funds for the Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program are generated from a fee charged to certain manufacturer, wholesalers, and retailers of products that commonly contribute to litter.

"Local programs and communities are essential to the state's efforts to promote litter reduction and recycling," Linder said. "Once again, the department received applications for many outstanding projects which demonstrate that the best ideas come from people who are closest to the work and know what needs to be done."

Local grantees for 2007: Cleanup Grants: Grand Island Area Clean Community System, $8,250. Public Education Grants: City of Hastings, $30,000; Grand Island Area Clean Community System, $42,216; and Loup Basin RC & D Council, Ord, $32,165. Recycling Grants: Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska Inc., Grand Island, $16,209.