Families and individuals who made under $57,000 in 2014 can still sign up to get their taxes done for free. Guthrie County Extension’s Mary Ebert says the VITA free tax preparation is performed by trained professionals. “IRS certified tax preparers will e-file federal and state returns. This service will be offered at the Guthrie County Extension office on Thursday evenings through April from 4-8 pm.”

To make your appointment, call Extension at 641-747-2276.

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A traffic stop  over the weekend led to a drug bust for the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department. Last Friday night at approximately 11:45, Danny J. Lovell of Adair was arrested following a traffic stop west of Casey on White Pole Road. Lovell is facing charges of Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Operating While Intoxicated/Drugged 2nd Offense.

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Ever since the heyday of Hulk Hogan and ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage over three decades ago, professional wrestling has been a staple of American culture. Everyone has heard of major wrestling corporations like World Wrestling Entertainment, which performs in the largest arenas in the world’s biggest cities. There are also many smaller pro wrestling companies that perform in the hinterlands and small towns of our nation. Such will be the case when 3XWrestling of Des Moines performs their ‘Inferno’ event at West Central Valley High School in Stuart next month.

3XWrestling owner Todd Countryman  is a 1996 graduate of West Central Valley High School. He’s been running 3XWrestling events for about 10 years. Countryman says he prefers to model his company’s image after the style of wrestling he grew up with during the 1980’s and 90’s, which features larger than life hero and villain character personas.

Countryman says next month will be his first time ever holding an event in his hometown and he won’t be the only home-grown talent there. “We have a wrestler on our roster that graduated from West Central Valley High School, as well. His name’s Ray Surber, he wrestles as Ray Stryker. He’s a fireman character in the wrestling world. It’s gonna be great to have him in action. He’s actually going to be facing a guy that grew up and graduated from Earlham High School, who’s a professional wrestler who’s wrestled all over the world. He wrestled in Japan for a while and now he’s back in Iowa, and his name’s Levi McDaniel.”

Countryman says West Central Valley head boys basketball coach Nick Peasley will make a cameo appearance at the event as well.

The event will also serve as a fundraiser. All of the proceeds from admission and concession sales will go the Dexter City Park project to replace public restrooms.

The family friendly ‘Inferno’ pro wrestling event will be at West Central Valley High School on Saturday, March 14th at 7 pm. Ticket prices for all ages are $10 for bleacher seats and $15 for floor seats. For more information about ‘Inferno’ head to www.3xwrestling.com .

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The Ballet Des Moines will be coming to Stuart next month to give a free performance, thanks to a generous sponsorship from  Shaw-Belden Insurance. Jody Gifford is Executive Director of Ballet Des Moines and says the free show is a great, risk-free opportunity for people to find out if they like ballet or not. “If you’re not sure if you’re interested in the ballet or not, use this as an opportunity to experience something you’re not sure of. It’s not a financial commitment. It is free, it is open to the public. We encourage everyone of all ages to come in and take a look.”

The event will take place Friday, March 13th at 6:30 pm at Stuart’s Saints Center.

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The Iowa House and Senate are at odds when it comes to what percentage of allowable growth to give to Iowa’s school districts for the 2015/16 fiscal year. The House wants to give 1.25% growth; the Senate wants to give 4% growth. Those two numbers seem close, but for a school district the size of West Central Valley, the two figures are about $100,000 apart, according to the Iowa Senate’s website. The bigger the enrollment of the school district, the bigger the difference.   State Representative Clel Baudler believes the House’s figure to be much more rational. “What we’ve done in the house, I believe is responsible for what we can afford right now.”

Baudler believes it could be several weeks before a final decision on allowable growth is made.