LEVY: If you are a resident of Hurricane, you have the opportunity to vote on the Excess Levy. The passing of the Excess Levy will result in a small raise in taxes that will help pay for streets and police. Early ballots may be cast weekdays at the Municipal Building until Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Official voting will be 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, also in the Municipal Building.

WORTH A CLICK: Oh. My. Gosh. If you absolutely love to see little kids with big talent, check out this 7-year -old boy singing the National Anthem at a college basketball game. I listened to it twice after I stumbled upon it. This site links you to other talented kid videos that entertain and just plain wow you. Enjoy! http://video.aol.com/video-detail/7-year-old-sings-national-anthem/40945200.

TAX HELP: Volunteers are available to help Putnam County residents prepare their tax returns in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the Central West Virginia Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition. Volunteers provide free, basic income tax preparation services to community members with low to moderate incomes. Appointments are being made for the Hurricane Municipal Building site for Saturday, Feb. 13, 27, March 13, 20, 27 and April 10. The time available is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Christine Spaulding at 304-546-7578 to make an appointment.

BANNED DOGS: There will be a special evening meeting of the County Commission at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 to allow the public to comment on the recent passage of the vicious dog ordinance. Citizens who wish to speak at the meeting must sign in. The meeting will be held on the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.

QUICK CASH: Need extra funds? US Census Bureau is looking for people in our area to set their own full-time or part-time schedule making $12.50 per hour. Workers will also be reimbursed 50 cents per mile for fuel.

The job will last from six to eight weeks, possibly up to 10. You will need reliable transportation and will need to take a 28 question basic skills test.

If you suffer over test anxiety, there are sample tests available to you. Hiring and training will take place in March and work will be done in April and May.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved a policy that allows tempory Census employees to work for 180 days without affecting eligibility for Public and Indian Housing programs.

For more information call U.S. Census Bureau's Charleston office at 304-348-6730.

GOT BLOOD? Putnam Chamber NOW (Network of Women) is sponsoring a Blood Drive for 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, at Hurricane City Hall. Donors must be at least 17, in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID, or two other forms of ID, are required when you give blood. Donors will be treated to Girl Scout cookies, provided by local Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council! Register to be a donor or a volunteer at www.redcrosslife.org or call the Chamber office at 304-757-6510.

LOVE YOUR PHONE? The following is an excerpt from the West Virginia Citizen Action Group newsletter: "Check out www.badforwestvirginia.org and if you agree we need to hold Verizon accountable, send a message to the governor and write a letter to the editor. Next week we will have a petition available for you to ask your friends and neighbors to sign to oppose the sale. It's time to let the Public Service Commission and Governor Manchin know that this sale is designed to benefit Wall Street, not West Virginia's consumers. Make your voice heard today!"

CLEAN INDOOR AIR: Currently under consideration by the House Health and Human Resources Committee is HB 2746 which would raise the tax on cigarettes by 65 cents a pack and increase the rate on other tobacco products from 7 percent to 14 percent of the wholesale price.

Although there has been a massive campaign to force users to drop their legal habit in public places, West Virginia remains No. 2 in tobacco use in the nation. Tobacco users are condemned for health risks possibly created to themselves and those around them but rarely condoned for their hefty contribution of taxes. It's an issue not likely to disappear soon. Contact committee members and voice your opinion on HB 2746.

E-DAY: E-Day at the Capitol is planned for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Lower Rotunda. This is the Environmental Lobbying Day -- a perfect opportunity to "go ye out and lobby" for everyone. Booth displays, announcements, press conference and more. For more information, or for table/booth reservations: contact Kevin Smith at a_clean_wv@yahoo.com.

FUR BALL: A ritzy affair for the poor animals, the annual black tie event is taking place 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the First State Bank's new location in Hurricane. This fundraiser for the proposed new animal shelter for Putnam County continues to grow in popularity. Jeff Barnes, chairman for the Putnam Animal Relief Center fund said, "Nearly everyone who attends says it is the must-attend event of the year in Putnam County."

Plans call for wonderful entertainment, food and refreshments. Enjoy the singing talents of Sinatra crooner John-Eric Booth. In addition, soulful Charleston-based performer Lady D will be included in the evening's entertainment lineup. Lady D has performed extensively throughout the region and was honored last year for composing the best inaugural song with a guest performance in Washington, D.C. at President Obama's inaugural ball.

What a great way to impress your sweetie on Valentine's Day, with a gift of tickets to the Fur Ball! You'll have a great time while helping the plight of Putnam County's homeless domestic animals. For more information, contact Jeff Barnes by phone at 304-757-5700 or via e-mail at jbarnes@jbarnes.com.

JOKE OF THE WEEK: We are in trouble....the population of this country is 300 million; 160 million are retired. That leaves 140 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school; which leaves 55 million to do the work. Of this, there are 35 million employed by the federal government, leaving 20 million to do the work. 2.8 million are in the armed forces, which leaves 17.2 million to do the work. Take from that total the 15.8 million people who work for state and city governments; that leaves 1.4 million to do the work. At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals, leaving 1,212,000 to do the work. Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons. That leaves just two people to do the work. You and me. And there you are, reading your newspaper!

Tee hee hee, funny thing about numbers...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts." -- John Locke.

Let Jill Oxley, Putnam County's resident community newshound, know about your events by leaving a message at 304-757-9579 a week in advance.

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