ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

VETERANS

ROA dinner, meeting

AUSTINTOWN

The Ohio president of the Reserves Officers Association will be the speaker for the Mahoning Chapter of the ROA meeting Thursday.

Lt. Col. Robert Bishop, Air Force Reserve, will address the membership on the latest efforts both in Ohio and in Washington by the nationwide organization.

The meeting begins with refreshments at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 at the Manor Restaurant, state Route 46 and Kirk Road. Retired and active-duty officers are welcome to attend.

Another discussion topic will be the veterans bonus for Ohio residents. Col. Walter M. Duzzny (ret.), USAR, will preside over the meeting.

Nontaxable bonuses

COLUMBUS

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has released letters from the Internal Revenue Service, the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Regional Income Tax Agency exempting Ohio veterans from paying income taxes on service bonuses received for time served in the Iraq, Persian Gulf and Afghanistan wars.

The letters recognize the bonuses to be the equivalent of nonreportable gifts and therefore do not qualify as taxable income.

“I am pleased that it is now crystal-clear that the veterans bonus is to be exempt from income tax at the federal, state and local levels,” Cordray said in a press release. “Ohio veterans and active-duty military have earned these bonuses in full and have paid for them with their service and dedication to this country.”

The agencies’ letters to the attorney general can be used as proof of the decision for tax purposes. They have been posted on the Ohio attorney general’s website and can be downloaded and printed. The website is www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.

BASIC TRAINING

Army: Pfc. Eric Sheffield (Chaney High School, ’06), son of Chuck and Mary Sheffield of Youngstown.

Air Force: Airman Pete A. McKinney (East Liverpool High School, ’09), son of Kari Miller and Pete McKinney, both of East Liverpool.

Navy: Seaman Logan E. Pickett (Jefferson High School, Jefferson, ’09), son of Rebecca S. Pickett of Euclid and Mark A. Pickett of Jefferson; Seaman Wade M. Carothers (Edgewood High School, Ashtabula, ’03), son of Elvis W. and Darla J. Carothers of Jefferson; Seaman Apprentice Jamie M. Haas (West Middlesex High School, West Middlesex, Pa., ’10) daughter of Patricia A. and Bruce C. Haas of Pulaski, Pa.; Seaman Apprentice Nikolai E. Baker (Crestview High School, Columbiana, ’08), son of Ruth A. and Gerald M. Baker of Leetonia.

Items of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780 or e-mailed to news@vindy.com