NAACP Says No To Internal Revenue Request For Documents
IRS investigation appears to be motivated by partisan politics.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is refusing to comply with an Internal Revenue Service request for documents as part of its investigation into alleged improper political bias by the nation’s largest civil rights organization.

According to the IRS, the NAACP’s tax exempt status is being challenged because NAACP Chairman of the Board Julian Bond allegedly made politically partisan remarks while speaking at the NAACP National Convention last July. The NAACP has rejected the IRS’s premise that Bond’s speech constituted prohibited campaign intervention.

Racial And Ethnic Intolerance Is Wrong In Every Community
New York radio station’s Tsunami parody went beyond the bounds of decency
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling for appropriate disciplinary action against members of New York radio station WQHT-FM, known locally as Hot 97, for airing a racist song parody that mocked victims of the catastrophic South Asia tsunami. The death toll from the tsunami that struck Asia and Africa is estimated from 150,000 to 178,000, with more than 140,000 still missing.

“Racially offensive remarks are wrong and unacceptable no matter from what quarter they come,” said NAACP Interim President and CEO Dennis Hayes. “The African American community, like all communities, must practice tolerance and show respect for the loss of human life. The NAACP would expect the owners of WQHT-FM to properly discipline all who were involved in airing the tasteless song that has offended people in all communities.”

NAACP Opposes Planned Cuts In Pell Grant Program
Bush Administration plan will eliminate scholarships for an estimated 90,000 students.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling on Congress to reject cuts in college financial aid that have been proposed by the Bush Administration. Nearly 40 percent of African American students depend on Pell Grants to help pay for college.

A new Department of Education formula for calculating eligibility for college financial aid students would reduce Pell Grants to 1.3 million college students and eliminate grants to nearly 90,000 students. The NAACP is asking the Administration to delay restrictions until Congress reauthorize's the Higher Education Act.

REGISTRAR’S OFFICE TO HAVE SATURDAY HOURS

The Hanover Registrar’s Office will have Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 for the casting of absentee ballots.

Absentee ballots are available if you will not be in your precinct on Election Day. Applications must be received by mail by Tuesday, Nov. 1. Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. is the deadline to apply for business or medical emergency absentee ballots.

For more information call 365-6080 or visit www.hanovervoter.com/

BOND REFERENDUM INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON OCT. 19

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Hanover Board of Supervisors will hold a public informational meeting about the Nov. 8 Bond Referendum at Hanover High School. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Hanover High School Auditorium.

The Bond Referendum proposes debt financing for $33,441,000 for Public Safety Projects, $9,718,000 for Parks & Libraries Projects, and $51,916,000 for School Projects. The proposed general obligation bonds allow the County to achieve lower interest rates than other forms of debt and will save an estimated $1.1 million over the life of the bonds.

No real estate tax rate increase is proposed or projected if the Bond Referendum is approved. Phasing construction of the projects over six years enables them to be built with no tax rate increase and also allows the County to remain in compliance with its conservative financial policies limiting debt.

For more information about the Bond Referendum or the projects, see www.hanoverbonds.com or e-mail htharris@co.hanover.va.us.

Hanover High School is located on U.S. 301, five miles south of Hanover Courthouse.

For more information about the Board’s Oct. 19 meeting, call 365-6005.

NATURALIZATION CEREMONY HELD AT SCOTCHTOWN

Scotchtown, the home of Revolutionary War orator Patrick Henry, was the site of another historic event last week when 41 new Americans took the citizenship oath.

Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy R. Hassell Sr. performed the naturalization ceremony for 41 immigrants from 25 nations.

It was the first time the naturalization ceremony had been held at Scotchtown. According to media accounts, the location was suggested by Virginia Supreme Court Justice Donald W. Lemons, a Hanover County resident.