COLUMBUS – Many Ohio livestock farmers will be subject to new requirements under the animal disease traceability system, according to rules published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) will host a members-only webinar to explain the requirements and answer questions.

The online meeting will be May 29 from 7-8 p.m. Registration is required by May 28 at http://ofbf.org/news-and-events/events/582/.

The webinar will be hosted by Dr. Leah Dorman, a veterinarian and OFBF’s director of food programs. She will be joined by Ohio’s state veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey of the Ohio Department of Agriculture and by USDA veterinarian Dr. Susan Skorupski.

The goal of the animal disease traceability system is to improve the response to a livestock disease outbreak in the United States. USDA issued final rules on the program in December 2012. The webinar will focus on issues that are important to Ohio livestock farmers, particularly beef and dairy farmers.

Farm Bureau members may post questions for the panelists when registering or during the webinar.

WASHINGTON — A key deadline of May 15 is facing many tax-exempt organizations that are required by law to file annual reports with the Internal Revenue Service. Organizations will see their federal tax exemptions automatically revoked if they have not filed reports for three consecutive years.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 mandates that most tax-exempt organizations file annual Form 990-series informational returns or notices with the IRS. Under this law, organizations that fail to file reports for three consecutive years automatically lose their federal tax-exempt status. The law, which went into effect at the beginning of 2007, also imposed a new annual filing requirement on small organizations. Churches and church-related organizations are not required to file annual reports.

Form 990-series information returns and notices are due on the 15th day of the fifth month after an organization’s fiscal year ends. Organizations that need additional time to file may obtain an extension.

Many organizations use the calendar year as their fiscal year, which makes May 15 the deadline for them. Organizations that fail to file annual reports for three consecutive years will see their tax exemptions automatically revoked as of the due date of the third required filing.

Small tax-exempt organizations with average annual receipts of $50,000 or less may file an electronic notice called a Form 990-N (e-Postcard), which asks organizations for a few basic pieces of information. Tax-exempt organizations with average annual receipts above $50,000 must file a Form 990 or 990-EZ, depending on their receipts and assets. Private foundations file a Form 990-PF.

The IRS began to publish the names of organizations identified as having automatically lost their tax-exempt status for failing to file annual reports for three consecutive years. Organizations that have had their exemptions automatically revoked and wish to have that status reinstated must file an application for exemption and pay the appropriate user fee.

The IRS offers an online search tool, Exempt Organizations Select Check, to help users more easily find key information about the federal tax status and filings of certain tax-exempt organizations, including whether organizations have had their federal tax exemptions automatically revoked.

VAN WERT – The Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, in recognition of the 100th birthday of the Lincoln Highway, has organized a bus trip along the historic route from Convoy to Bucyrus for Saturday, June 29.

The trip will be led by local Lincoln Highway historian Larry Webb, who will share personal experiences and interesting stories about growing up on the Lincoln Highway as a boy. Points of interest will be highlighted with short stops and photo opportunities are several locations along the way.

Local amateur historians know the important role the Lincoln Highway played in the growth and development of the Van Wert area. It brought not only cross-country travelers, but it also encouraged the establishment of gas stations, restaurants, retail businesses, and lodging facilities. As these businesses flourished, other entrepreneurs saw Van Wert as a location for their businesses and soon residents were living in a thriving community.

The cost of the trip is $25 per person. Participants will meet at Lincoln Ridge Farm, north of Convoy, at 11 a.m. A box lunch is included in the cost of the trip. The tour will then proceed along the Lincoln Highway through Van Wert, Delphos, Gomer, Cairo, Beaverdam, Upper Sandusky, Oceola and Bucyrus. On the return trip the group will stop at the Steer Barn in Upper Sandusky for dinner. The price of the meal is not included in the cost of the trip as participants will order from the menu and pay individually. The group should return to Lincoln Ridge Farm by 8:30 p.m.

Deadline for reservations is May 21. If you are interested in being part of this trip, or have additional questions, please call the CVB office at 419-238-9378 to give your contact information.

PAULDING – The Paulding County Chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society meeting was held April 10. Members were reminded of plans for a “potluck style” picnic and Riverside Cemetery walk at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 in Antwerp’s Veterans Riverside Park.

The evening program consisted of ACRES Land Trust representative, Jill (Rood) Nolls, who explained who they are, what they do and where they are located. At this time, their only preserve in Ohio is Flat Rock in Paulding County.

Recently ACRES reached another milestone: preserving their 5,000th acre of land. The acquisition of the 87-acre Blue Cast Springs Nature Preserve in Allen County, Ind. increased its holdings to 5,046 acres.

BY ALEX WOODRING • DHI Correspondent

and Press Releases

OTTAWA — The bodies of two of the three teen boys thought to be kidnapped from an Ottawa trailer park Thursday morning have been located. Investigators found the bodies after the third teen, who was discovered in Columbus Thursday afternoon after a statewide Amber Alert was issued, told officials their location.

At 5:31 a.m. on Thursday, the Ottawa Police Department was dispatched to 1350 North Perry St. at Elkcrest Trailer Park, Lot 61, after the mother arrived home to discover what appeared to be a crime scene and three teens missing from the home as well as a silver 2006 Chevy HHR. According to Lt. Joshua Strick, there were no signs of an abduction.

The Amber Alert was officially issued at 11:21 a.m. for Blake Romes, 17, Blaine Romes, 14, and Michael Fey, 17. At 1:05 p.m., the Columbus Police Department contacted Ottawa officials to inform them they had found the vehicle. A juvenile was located in the car and taken into custody by the Columbus police. Reports indicate the missing teen found in Columbus was 17-year-old Fey.

The Amber Alert was cancelled around 3 p.m., according to Strick.

At 5:20 p.m., Putnam County Sheriff’s Department investigators stated Fey, who was located in the vehicle in Columbus, gave the location of the bodies of the previous missing juveniles. Multiple agencies assisted and located the two bodies.

Assistant Putnam County Coroner Dr. Mandy Klass has ordered autopsies to determine the cause of the deaths. The investigation is ongoing.

COLUMBUS – Auditor of State Dave Yost today released the Village of Melrose, in Paulding County, from fiscal emergency, a status it has held since 2008.